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English Correspondence

St Boniface, tr. Kylie, 1911

Letter 9: Boniface Replies to Bugga, Who Has Asked His Advice About Going Abroad. He…

To the lady Bugga, abbess, dearest friend and sister, in the love of Christ to be placed before all others of her sex, Boniface, a poor and unworthy bishop, sends wishes for eternal salvation in Christ.

Be it known to thee, my dearest sister, that as to the advice for which thou didst ask my unworthy self, I cannot presume either to forbid or to urge strongly upon thee a journey abroad. But I shall put the case as I see it. If to seek quiet and contemplation of the Lord thou hast put aside the anxiety which thou didst feel about the servants and the handmaidens of God and the monastic life, why shouldst thou now submit, with toil and wearing anxiety, to the words and wishes of unworthy men? It seems to me better that if, because of the world thou canst not find in thy native land the freedom of a quiet mind, thou shouldst, provided thou hast the will and power, seek liberty for contemplation by going abroad, just as did our sister Wiethburga.¹ She has told me in her letters that she has found by the shrine of Saint Peter such quiet of life, as for a long time she has sought and desired. As regards thy wish — for I wrote to her about thee — she bade me have thee wait until the wars and dangers threatening from the Saracens, which have lately manifested themselves in Italy, shall have ceased, and until she herself shall send you, God willing, a letter of invitation; and this I think myself to be the best plan. And so thou shouldst prepare the necessaries for the journey and accept her advice, and afterwards do what the goodness of God shall enjoin.

Concerning the copy of the passages, which thou didst request of me, thou must pardon my sinful neglect, for, owing to pressing work and continuous travelling, I have not yet completed what thou didst ask for; but when I have it finished I shall be sure to have it sent to thee.

I thank thee for the gifts and garments which thou hast sent, and pray the Omnipotent God to grant thee an eternal reward with the angels and archangels in the heights of heaven. So I beseech thee in God’s name, my dearest sister, nay, mother and sweet lady, to pray for me constantly, because for my sins I am worn out by tribulations and disturbed much more by anxiety and mental care than by bodily toil. Be assured that the old confidence between us never fails. Farewell in Christ.

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