Letters25 Letter XXV. To Hugo, archbishop of Rouen. (A.D. 1130)

He exhorts Hugo to strive to be patient and peaceable among his Rouennais, and at the same time to temper his zeal with discretion.

1. If malice grows every day, yet let it not prevail; if it is boisterous, let it not trouble your peace. The waves of the sea are mighty, but the Lord in heaven is mightier, and the mercy from on high has dwelt with you, illustrious father, as you know, with extreme goodness even until now. For by a kindly Providence you are no sooner set to preside over sinners than you are associated with the good and pious, by whose example and company you may become good, and so may be able to dwell in the midst of sinners without ceasing to be righteous. And, indeed, to be righteous among the righteous assures salvation, but to be so among sinners assures also praise. The one is easy and sure, the other as meritorious as difficult. For the task is as it were to touch pitch and not to be defiled therewith, to walk in fire without being injured, and in the shadows without being dark. The Egyptians formerly were in darkness that might be felt, while of the people of God the Scripture says Wheresoever Israel was it was light (Exod. x. 23). David was a true Israelite, and, therefore, spoke with preciseness that he dwelt not "in Cedar," but with the dwellers in Cedar (Ps. cxx. 5), and as one who habitually dwelt in the light, although his bodily abode was with the dwellers in Cedar [Kedar]. Wherefore also he blames certain persons as not being true Israelites, because they were mingled among the heathen and learned their works, and it became a snare unto them (Ps. cvi. 35, 36).

2. I say, then, that it was sufficient when you were at Cluny to keep yourself innocent, as it is written, With an innocent man Thou shalt be innocent (Ps. xvii. 26, VULG.). But now that you are among the Rouennais (otherwise, at Rouen you have need of patience, as the Apostle teaches: The servant of the Lord must not strive, but be patient towards all (2 Tim. ii. 24). Nor must he be only patient, so as not to be overcome of evil, but also pacific, to overcome evil with good. The one that you may bear with evil persons, the other that you may do good to those whom you thus bear with. In your patience possess your soul (S. Luke xxi. 19), but be also pacific, that you may have control also over the souls committed to you. What so great glory as to be able to say, With those who hated peace I was pacific (Ps. cxx. 7). Be, then, patient, because you are among evil men; be pacific, because you have such to govern. Let your charity be zealous, but moderate your severity for a time. Censure should, indeed, never be altogether foregone, but it may often be profitably intermitted. The vigour of justice should be always keen, but never precipitate. As not everything that is pleasing is permissible, so not everything permissible is expedient. You know all this better than I, and, therefore, I do not insist farther. I beg you to pray for me earnestly, because I do not cease to fall into sin.