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English Correspondence

St Boniface, tr. Kylie, 1911

Letter 21: Lul Asks Lioba Not to Doubt His Affection for Her. He Wishes Her to Send Word…

To Lioba, beloved sister in Christ, Lul, the humble servant of the pupils of our master Boniface, greetings in the Lord.

I cannot believe that in thy zeal and wisdom thou art unmindful of the gospel words, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”¹ This poverty must be borne patiently, on the authority of the same evangelist, who says: “In your patience possess ye your souls.”² Retain also in thy heart these words of David, “According to the multitude of my sorrows in my heart, Thy comforts have given joy to my soul.”³

Though for a long time since we have been kept apart in the body, thou must not believe that our true kinship in the Lord has been given over to contempt or forgetfulness. Nor must thou suppose that I am at all weary in thy business, but only, as thou shouldst know, occupied by the crafty wiles of the devil and worn out by the cunning assaults of his ministers, so that, in the words of the prophet, “I am weary of my life because of the sons of iniquity.”⁴

Should anything be wanting to thy needs, tell me of it through the deacon Gundwin, who is to return here. Exhort him that he may not slacken in his efforts on my behalf, for any one willing to bear my tribulations along with me is but rarely found.

Farewell in God, and intercede for me the more earnestly that I am crushed by ever-increasing perplexities.

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