Letter 48
...For if today you could see bishops worthy of the Lord — Exsuperius in Toulouse, Simplicius in Vienne, Amandus in Bordeaux, Diogenianus in Albi, Dynamius in Angouleme, Venerandus in Clermont, Alethius in Cahors, or now Pegasius in Perigueux — however bad things may be in the world, you would see men who are the most worthy guardians of the entire faith and its practice...
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.
Related Letters
This is an interesting letter addressed to a lady of rank, on the principles and methods of a holy life. It is not, however, the work of Jerome, of whose style it shows few traces. It has been ascribed in turn to Paulinus of Nola and Sulpicius Severus.
Augustine writes to Optatus, bishop of Milevis, to say that he cannot send him a copy of his letter to Jerome on the origin of the soul (Letter CXXXI.) as it is incomplete without Jerome's reply which he has not yet received. He then criticises the arguments with which Optatus combats traducianism and points out that his reasoning is inconclusiv...
1. Two young men, Cresconius and Felix, have found their way to us, and, introducing themselves as belonging to your brotherhood, have told us that your monastery was disturbed with no small commotion, because certain among you preach grace in such a manner as to deny that the will of man is free; and maintain--a more serious matter--that in the...