§22Quae cum ita sint, non existimemus ad mortuos, pro quibus curam gerimus, peruenire, nisi quod pro eis siue altaris siue orationum siue elemosynarum sacrificiis sollemniter supplicamus, quamuis non pro quibus fiunt omnibus prosint, sed eis tantum quibus dum uiuunt conparatur, ut prosint.
Since these things are so, let us not think that anything reaches the dead, for whom we care, except what we solemnly supplicate for them by the sacrifices of either the altar, or of prayers, or of alms; although these do not benefit all of those for whom they are made, but only those for whom, while they live, it is acquired that they should benefit.
sed quia non discernimus, qui sint, oportet ea pro regeneratis omnibus facere, ut nullus eorum praetermittatur, ad quos haec beneficia possint et debeant peruenire.
But because we do not distinguish who they are, we ought to do these things for all the regenerated, so that none of them may be passed over, to whom these benefits can and ought to reach.
melius enim supererunt ista eis, quibus nec obsunt nec prosunt, quam eis deerunt, quibus prosunt.
For it is better that these things should be superfluous to those whom they neither harm nor benefit, than that they should be lacking to those whom they benefit.
diligentius tamen facit haec quisque pro necessariis suis, quo pro illo fiat similiter a suis.
Yet each one does these things more diligently for his own relatives, so that the same may be done for him in turn by his own.
corpori autem humando quidquid inpenditur, non est praesidium salutis, sed humanitatis officium secundum affectum, quo nemo umquam carnem suam odio habet unde oportet ut quam potest pro carne proximi curam gerat. cum ille inde recesserit qui gerebat.
But whatever is expended on burying the body is not a safeguard of salvation, but a duty of humanity according to the affection, by which no one ever hates his own flesh; whence it is necessary that he should care as much as he can for the flesh of his neighbor, when he who was carrying it has departed from there.
et si haec faciunt, qui carnis resurrectionem non credunt, quanto magis debent facere qui credunt, ut corpori mortuo, sed tamen resurrecturo et in aeternitate mansuro inpensum eius modi officium sit etiam quodam modo eiusdem fidei testimonium! quod uero quisque apud memorias martyrum sepelitur, hoc tantum mihi uidetur prodesse defuncto, ut commendans eum etiam martyrum patrocinio affectus pro illo supplicationis augeatur.
And if they do these things who do not believe in the resurrection of the flesh, how much more ought they to do so who believe, so that such a duty bestowed on a body that is dead, but yet to rise again and remain in eternity, may also be in some way a testimony of that same faith! But as for the fact that anyone is buried at the memorials of the martyrs, this seems to me to benefit the deceased only in this way, that by commending him also to the patronage of the martyrs, the affection of prayer for him may be increased.
§23Habes ad ea, quae a me putasti esse quaerenda, qualem reddere potui responsionem meam: quae si ultra quam sat est prolixa est, da ueniam; id enim factum est amore diutius loquendi tecum.
You have my answer, such as I was able to give, to those things which you thought ought to be asked of me: and if this is more verbose than is sufficient, grant pardon; for this was done out of the love of speaking with you longer.
hunc ergo librum quemadmodum acceperit uenerabilis dilectio tua, rescriptis tuis nouerim, quem tibi perlator eius faciet sine dubio gratiorem, frater scilicet et conpresbyter noster Candidianus, quem per tuas litteras cognitum toto corde suscepi inuitusque dimisi.
Therefore, may I know from your reply how your venerable love received this book, which its bearer will without doubt make more pleasing to you, namely, our brother and fellow-presbyter Candidianus, whom, having known through your letter, I received with all my heart and let go unwillingly.
multum enim nos in caritate Christi sua praesentia consolatus est et, quod fatendum est, eius tibi parui instantia.
For he greatly consoled us in the love of Christ by his presence and, as must be confessed, I obeyed his insistence for you.
nam cor meum tanta distendunt, ut, nisi ipso assidue commonente me non sineret obliuisci, profecto interrogationi tuae mea responsio defuisset.
For so many things distract my heart, that, unless he himself by constantly reminding me had not allowed me to forget, surely my answer to your inquiry would have been lacking.
gerenda pro mortuis fol. ą3b M Explicit ad Paulinum epm.
[What is] to be done for the dead, fol. a3b M. Here ends [the book] to Bishop Paulinus.
Inc de octo questionibus ad Dulcitium fol. 105 I Explicit ad Paulinum epm fol.
Here begins "On Eight Questions to Dulcitius," fol. 105 I. Here ends [the book] to Bishop Paulinus, fol. 75* Z.
75* Z Explicit epistula sci Augustini de cura pro mortuis gerenda fol.
Here ends the letter of Saint Augustine on the care to be taken for the dead, fol. 951 N.
951 N Explicit liber Aurelii Augustini ad Paulinum Nolanae urbis epm de cura pro mortuis gerenda fol.
Here ends the book of Aurelius Augustine to Paulinus, Bishop of the city of Nola, on the care to be taken for the dead, fol. 48* T.
48* T Explicit liber sci Augustini de cura pro mortuis gerenda fol.
Here ends the book of Saint Augustine on the care to be taken for the dead, fol. 158* V.
158* V Explicit liber sci Augustini ad beatissimum Paulinum.
Here ends the book of Saint Augustine to the most blessed Paulinus.
Inc sci Augustini de immortalitate animae fol.
Here begins Saint Augustine's "On the Immortality of the Soul," fol. 71b K.
71b K Explicit liber de cura pro mortuis gerenda fol.
Here ends the book on the care to be taken for the dead, fol. 37* P.
37* P Explicit liber sci Augustini ad beatissimum Paulinum Y Cod.
Here ends the book of Saint Augustine to the most blessed Paulinus Y.
E subscriptione caret Explicit liber fol.
Cod. E lacks a subscription.
142* F
Here ends the book, fol. 142* F.