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English Correspondence
St Boniface, tr. Kylie, 1911
Letter 4: Bugga Congratulates Boniface on the Successful Issue of His Affairs. She…
To Boniface, or Wynfrith, honourable servant of God, distinguished by many spiritual gifts, worthy priest of God, Bugga, a lowly handmaiden, sends her undying love.
Be it known to thee, my gracious friend, that I give thanks to Almighty God without ceasing, because, as I learned from thy letter, He has poured upon thee His manifold mercies, and jealously guarded thee on thy way through unknown countries. First he inclined the pontiff, who holds the chair of Peter, to smile on thy heart’s wish. Afterwards he laid low before thee, Rathbod, that enemy of the Catholic Church; and then he revealed to thee in a dream that thou wert to reap the harvest of God and to gather the sheaves of holy souls into the granary of the heavenly kingdom. Wherefore, I acknowledge the more freely that no temporal vicissitudes can move my mind from its steady guardianship of thy love. But the flames of that love burn the stronger in me, since I know that, through the merits of thy prayers, I have come to a harbour of some quiet. And so, again I humbly beg thee, deign to offer thy intercession before God for my poor self, that His grace may keep me safe under thy protection.
I would also have thee know that The Sufferings of the Martyrs, which thou didst ask to have sent thee, I have not yet been able to obtain, but I shall send it when I can. And do thou, my beloved, send to console me what thou hast promised in thy kindest of letters, some selections from the Holy Scriptures.
I beg too, that thou wilt offer holy masses for my relative ***, who was dear to me beyond all others. With this messenger I send thee now fifty shillings and an altar pall, because I could not get larger gifts. But these, though small, are sent with my fondest love.
Fare well throughout this life in sanctity and “love unfeigned.”1
Notes
- 2 Cor. vi. 6.