Letter 806: Wealth is a tool, not a treasure.
The noble Paul, that most excellent general, who did not dishonor the King's appointment, who overlooked his own interests so that he might set right the affairs of others, seeing nothing beyond the benefit of the Church, cried out that all things must be done for the building up of the Church. But we put what appears advantageous to ourselves — for we look to our own glory — ahead of what belongs to the Church. And yet the glory of the Church redounds entirely to us as well, while our own glory does not entirely pass to the common good. For if, in order to commend ourselves, we neglect the edification of our neighbors, how shall the loss not be greater than the gain?
To Casius the Presbyter — Against those who say there is fate or destiny: It is not a terrible thing, O good man, that those who have done terrible things should also suffer terribly. But that those who have done nothing terrible should suffer terribly — this is most terrible of all. How then shall we answer those who complain about this? In no other way, I think, than by saying about the first case that it is just, and about the second that it is probative. For divine justice punished the former, while for the latter it provided the occasion for crowns. Those who define everything by fate will be at a loss to answer about both cases. For it is not just that one who was compelled to act, or one who did nothing terrible, should suffer terribly. But we who affirm Providence speak well, act piously, and give reasons consonant with justice.
To Martyrius the Reader: The terrible and all-daring love of money, knowing no satiety, drives the captured soul to the uttermost of evils. Let us therefore drive it away especially at the outset. For once it has prevailed, it becomes unconquerable.
To Syrion: There are those who advise us certain things; but if they do not, we shall separate them from the chorus of friends.
AI-assisted translation — This translation was produced with AI assistance and has not been peer-reviewed. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek below for scholarly use.
Latin / Greek Original
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Related Letters
in parceciam alienam inradere, or qnidijuam in ea, inconsiillo ipsitis to the bishop, ugere not licere.
This, one of the longest of Jerome's letters, was written to console Eustochium for the loss of her mother who had recently died. Jerome relates the story of Paula in detail; speaking first of her high birth, marriage, and social success at Rome, and then narrating her conversion and subsequent life as a Christian ascetic. Much space is devoted ...
Virtue must be practiced with all one's strength — not merely admired from a distance.
The spiritual life is a journey with a beginning, a middle, and an end.
To an unknown correspondent [perhaps Olympius].