Letter 6: This letter, written in 374 A.D., is chiefly interesting for its mention of Jerome's sister. It would seem that she had fallen into sin and had been restored to a life of virtue by the deacon, Julian. Jerome speaks of her again in the next letter (§4).

To Julian, Deacon of Antioch There's an old saying: liars aren't believed even when they tell the truth. And from the way you're scolding me for not writing, I can see that's been my fate with you. Should I say I wrote often, but the carriers were negligent? You'll reply: "That's the standard excuse of everyone who doesn't write." Should I say I couldn't find anyone to carry my letters? You'll point out that plenty of people have traveled from my part of the world to yours. Should I insist that I actually handed them letters? Since they never delivered them, they'll deny ever receiving them. And the enormous distance between us makes the truth impossible to verify. So what am I to do? Though genuinely not at fault, I ask your forgiveness anyway, because I think it's better to retreat and sue for peace than to hold my ground and fight the battle. The truth is that constant physical illness and mental anguish have weakened me so badly that with death staring me in the face, I haven't been my usual collected self. And in case you suspect this is a fabrication, now that I've stated my defense I'll call a witness to prove it, as any good lawyer would. Our reverend brother Heliodorus was here -- but despite wanting to live in the desert with me, he was scared off by my sins. Still, my current wordiness will make up for my past neglect. As Horace puts it in his satires: "All singers share one fault among their friends: asked to sing, they won't; unasked, they never stop." From now on I'll bury you in such heaps of letters that you'll reverse course and beg me not to write. I'm delighted that my sister -- your daughter in Christ -- remains firm in her resolution, news I owe in the first place to you. Here where I am, I'm ignorant not just of what's happening in my homeland but of whether it still exists. Even if some venomous critic tears at me with his poisonous fangs, I won't fear the judgment of men when I have God as my judge. As someone once said: "Shatter the world to pieces if you will -- it falls upon a head that knows no fear." Keep in mind, I beg you, the apostle's teaching that we should make our work endure. Prepare a reward for yourself from the Lord through my sister's salvation, and by writing often, add to the joy we share together in Christ.

To Julian, a Deacon of Antioch This letter, written in 374 A.D., is chiefly interesting for its mention of Jerome's sister. It would seem that she had fallen into sin and had been restored to a life of virtue by the deacon, Julian. Jerome speaks of her again in the next letter (§4). It is an old saying, Liars are disbelieved even when they speak the truth. And from the way in which you reproach me for not having written, I perceive that this has been my lot with you. Shall I say, I wrote often, but the bearers of my letters were negligent? You will reply, Your excuse is the old one of all who fail to write. Shall I say, I could not find any one to take my letters? You will say that numbers of persons have gone from my part of the world to yours. Shall I contend that I have actually given them letters? They not having delivered them, will deny that they have received them. Moreover, so great a distance separates us that it will be hard to come at the truth. What shall I do then? Though really not to blame, I ask your forgiveness, for I think it better to fall back and make overtures for peace than to keep my ground and offer battle. The truth is that constant sickness of body and vexation of mind have so weakened me that with death so close at hand I have not been as collected as usual. And lest you should account this plea a false one, now that I have stated my case, I shall, like a pleader, call witnesses to prove it. Our reverend brother, Heliodorus, has been here; but in spite of his wish to dwell in the desert with me, he has been frightened away by my crimes. But my present wordiness will atone for my past remissness; for, as Horace says in his satire: All singers have one fault among their friends: They never sing when asked, unasked they never cease. Henceforth I shall overwhelm you with such bundles of letters that you will take the opposite line and beg me not to write. I rejoice that my sister — to you a daughter in Christ — remains steadfast in her purpose, a piece of news which I owe in the first instance to you. For here where I now am I am ignorant not only as to what goes on in my native land, but even as to its continued existence. Even though the Iberian viper shall rend me with his baneful fangs, I will not fear men's judgment, seeing that I shall have God to judge me. As one puts it: Shatter the world to fragments if you will: 'Twill fall upon a head which knows not fear. Bear in mind, then, I pray you, the apostle's precept 1 Corinthians 3:14 that we should make our work abiding; prepare for yourself a reward from the Lord in my sister's salvation; and by frequent letters increase my joy in that glory in Christ which we share together. About this page Source. Translated by W.H. Fremantle, G. Lewis and W.G. Martley. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 6. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1893.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3001006.htm>. Contact information. The editor of New Advent is Kevin Knight. My email address is feedback732 at newadvent.org. (To help fight spam, this address might change occasionally.) Regrettably, I can't reply to every letter, but I greatly appreciate your feedback — especially notifications about typographical errors and inappropriate ads.