My wish was to write in cheerful terms and sound the note of the spiritual joy of the feast, but I am prevented by the multitude of our sins, which are bringing on us the judgment of God. For who indeed can be so insensible as not to perceive the divine wrath? May your piety then pray that affairs may undergo a change for the better; that so we too may change the style of our letter, and write words of cheerfulness instead of those of wailing.
Reproduced in full. Translation: Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 3 (Schaff and Wace, 1892), public domain (Public domain).