I posted this recently, but since today is the Feast of St. Basil of Caesarea (which gives way to the Sunday), here it is again:
Originally Published on: Jun 4, 2026
The evils which afflict us are well known, even if we do not now mention them, for long since have they been re-echoed through the whole world. The teachings of the Fathers are scorned; the apostolic traditions are set at naught; the fabrications of innovators are in force in the churches; these men, moreover, train themselves in rhetorical quibbling and not in theology; the wisdom of the world takes first place to itself, having thrust aside the glory of the Cross. The shepherds are driven away, and in their places are introduced troublesome wolves who tear asunder the flock of Christ. The houses of prayer are bereft of those wont to assemble therein; the solitudes are filled with those who weep. The elders weep, comparing the past with the present; the young are more to be pitied, since they know not of what they have been deprived.
Basil of Caesarea, Letter 90 (tr. Roy J. Deferrari)
Was this written yesterday?
“Let the little children come to me.”
The Greek and a Latin translation are in Patrologia Graeca 32 (https://www.google.com/books/edition/Patrologiae_cursus_completus_Series_grae/OjY2AQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0), columns 473-4. I am not going to attempt to type the Greek, but here is the Latin version: “notae autem calamitates nostrae uel nobis tacentibus; siquidem per totum terrenum orbem iam personuerunt. contemnuntur patrum dogmata; nullo numero habentur apostolicae traditiones; nouatorum inuenta regnant in Ecclesiis; de cetero homines uerborum artifices sunt non theologi [I might quibble with Deferrari’s “rhetorical quibbling” for “uerborum artifices”, Greek “technologusi”]; primas tenet mundi sapientia, expulsa crucis gloriatione. abactis pastoribus introducuntur lupi graues qui Christi gregem discerpunt. domus orationis destitutae concionatoribus solitudines lamentantibus refertae. seniores lugent, dum antiqua comparant cum praesentibus; iuniores miserabiliores sunt, qualibus priuati sint ignorantes.”