58. To Eulalia, Abbess

Anselm the archbishop to the reverend Abbess Eulalia and her daughters, greeting.

I thank your devout affection for that you prayed for me whilst I was in exile out of England, desiring my return; but now I ask you to pray with still more earnestness that my return may be prosperous. I wish you to know that my affection for you has existed ever since I knew you, and still lives and continues, and will continue, God willing, as long as I live. Wherefore since that affection is an abiding thing, although you need it not, yet would I write you somewhat whereby you may be assured that I love you and have a care for you. You, my beloved sisters, and daughters mine, I exhort and advise to be subject and obedient to your mother not only as under a human eye, but as in the sight of God, from whom nothing is hidden. For then is true obedience, when the will of the subordinate so obeys the will of the superior as that wherever the subject may be, he wills that which he knows the superior wishes, so it be not against the will of God. Your community ought to be the temple of God; and the temple of God is holy. If therefore you live, as I hope, holy lives, you are the temple of God. You live holy lives if you carefully keep your rule and vow; you do this with care, if you despise not the smallest things. For your intention should be always to strive after perfection, and with all your heart to hate falling back. For it is written: "He who contemneth small things shall fall by little and little." But he who falls back can make no progress. Therefore if you wish to advance, and dread falling back, do not despise small things: for as it is true that he who despiseth small things shall by little and little lose ground, so is it true that he who despiseth not trifles, shall gradually get on. Do not consider any sin small, although one may be greater than another. For nothing ought to be called small which is done through disobedience, which itself alone drove man out of paradise. And what small sin can there be, if according to Him who is Truth, whoso is angry with his brother without a cause is worthy of judgment, and whoso sayeth "Raca "worthy of the council, and whoso shall say "thou fool "shall be worthy of hell fire? I pray you therefore, dearest daughters, to neglect nothing, but seek to guard your deeds and thoughts as ever in God's sight. Have peace among yourselves, for in peace room is made for God, and there is much peace to those who love God's law, and in them is no offence. With heart and mouth I pray for God's blessing upon you, for His pardon for you; and I give and send my own, might it aught avail. So far as it can. Farewell.