E06397: A letter of Pope Gregory the Great (Register 9.148) of 599, to Secundinus, an anchorite monk, includes a gift of incense, aloes, storax and balsam, to be offered to the martyrs by the recipient, and asks for the intercession of *Peter (the Apostle, S00036) on behalf of the monk. Written in Latin in Rome.

Pope Gregory the Great, Register of Letters 9.148


Two extracts from a long letter, dealing with moral and theological issues:

Aloa uero, thymiama, storacem et balsamum sanctorum martyrum corporibus offerenda latore praesentium deferente transmisimus.
[...]
Rogo autem omnipotentem Deum ut sua te gratia protegat et beati Petri apostolorum principis intercessione a malis omnibus illaesum seruet, quatenus feruor caelestis desiderii in tua mente cotidie ardentius excrescat, ut semper nouus et semper se ipso robustior ad caelestia praemia multiplicius percipienda pertingat.


‘By the way, we have sent you presents, brought by the bearer of this letter, namely aloes, incense, storax and balsam, to be offered to the bodies of holy martyrs.
[...]
I ask almighty God to protect you with his grace and keep you unharmed by all evil things through the intercession of Peter, prince of the apostles, so that the fervour of heavenly desire may grow each day more ardently in your mind, and thus, ever new and ever more robust in yourself, you might obtain manifold rewards in Heaven.’


Text: Norberg 1982, vol. 2, 702 and 704. Translation: Martyn 2004, vol. 2, 633-4 and 635, lightly modified.