The Letters of St. Jerome 63
63 To Theophilus PL 22, 607
When the dispute arose between Jerome and Epiphanius on the one side and Rufinus and John of Jerusalem on the other (see Letter LI.), Theophilus bishop of Alexandria, being appealed to by the latter sent the presbyter Isidore to report to him on the matter. Isidore reported against Jerome and consequently Theophilus refused to answer several of his letters. Finally he wrote counselling him to obey the canons of the church. Jerome replies that to do this has always been his first object. He then remonstrates with Theophilus on his too great leniency towards the Origenists and declares it to be productive of the worst results. The date of the letter is probably 397 a.d.
Jerome to the most blessed pope Theophilus.
1. Your holiness will remember that at the time when you kept silence towards me, I never ceased to do my duty by writing to you, not taking so much into account what you in the exercise of your discretion were then doing as what it became me to do. And now that I have received a letter from your grace, I see that my reading of the gospel has not been without fruit. For if the frequent prayers of a woman changed the determination of an unyielding judge, how much more must my constant appeals have softened a fatherly heart like yours?
2. I thank you for your reminder concerning the canons of the Church. Truly, “whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” Still I would assure you that nothing is more my aim than to maintain the rights of Christ, to keep to the lines laid down by the fathers, and always to remember the faith of Rome; that faith which is praised by the lips of an apostle, and of which the Alexandrian church boasts to be a sharer.
3. Many religious persons are displeased that you are so long-suffering in regard to that shocking heresy, and that you suppose yourself able by such lenity to amend those who are attacking the Church’s vitals. They believe that, while you are waiting for the penitence of a few, your action is fostering the boldness of abandoned men and making their party stronger. Farewell in Christ.
Significat, respondens Theophilo, nihil sibi esse antiquius quam Christi jura servare, gratias agens interim de commonitione circa Canones Ecclesiasticos; nec probans quod ille remissius ageret in causa Origenistarum.
BEATISSIMO PAPAE THEOPHILO HIERONYMUS.
Meminit Beatitudo tua, quod eo tempore quo nobiscum tacebas, nunquam ab officiis meus sermo cessaverit: nec consideraverim, quid tu pro dispensatione tunc faceres; sed quid me facere conveniret. Et nunc sumptis Dignationis tuae epistolis, fructum aliquem coepisse me video Evangelicae lectionis. Si enim duri judicis sententiam creba mulieris inflexit petitio , quanto magis paterna viscera interpellatione sedula molliuntur?
Quod de Canonibus Ecclesiasticis mones, gratias agimus; « Quem enim diligit Dominus, corripit; et flagellat omnem filium, quem recipit . Sed tamen scito nobis nihil esse antiquius, quam Christi jura servare, nec Patrum transferre terminos, semperque meminisse Romanam fidem, Apostolico ore laudatam, cujus se esse participem Alexandrina Ecclesia gloriatur.
Super nefaria haeresi (Origeniana), quod multam patientiam geris: et putas Ecclesiae visceribus incubantes tua posse corrigi lenitate, multis Sanctis displicet: NE DUM PAUCORUM poenitentiam praestolaris, nutrias audaciam perditorum, et factio robustior fiat. Vale in Christo.