Letter 16: This letter, written a few months after the preceding, is another appeal to Damasus to solve the writer's doubts. Jerome once more refers to his baptism at Rome, and declares that his one answer to the factions at Antioch is, He who clings to the chair of Peter is accepted by me. Written from the desert in the year 377 or 378.

Letter 16: To Pope Damasus (377-378 AD) [Written a few months after the preceding. Jerome appeals again to Damasus to settle the Antiochene dispute. He declares his sole criterion: "Whoever clings to the chair of Peter is accepted by me."] 1. The importunate widow in the Gospel finally got her hearing [Matthew 15:28]. By the same persistence, one friend talked another into giving him bread at midnight, though his door was shut and his servants in bed [Luke 11:7-8]. The tax collector's prayers overcame God [Luke 18:10-14] — though God is invincible. Nineveh was saved by its tears from the destruction its sins had earned [Jonah 3:5, 10]. Why these far-fetched references? Simply this: that you, in your greatness, should look down on me in my insignificance; that you, the wealthy shepherd, should not despise me, the sickly sheep. Christ himself brought the thief from the cross straight into paradise [Luke 23:43], and — to prove that repentance is never too late — transformed a murderer's execution into a martyrdom. Christ joyfully embraces the prodigal son when he comes home [Luke 15:20], and leaving the ninety-nine behind, the Good Shepherd carries the one lost sheep back on his shoulders [Luke 15:5]. From a persecutor, Paul became a preacher. His bodily eyes were struck blind so that the eyes of his soul could see [Acts 9:8]. The man who once dragged Christ's servants in chains before the council of the Jews [Acts 8:3] later gloried in the chains of Christ [2 Corinthians 12:10]. 2. As I have already written to you: I, who received the garment of Christ in Rome [i.e., was baptized there], am now stranded in the wasteland bordering Syria. No sentence of exile brought me here; the punishment is self-inflicted. But as the pagan poet says: "They change not mind but sky who cross the sea" [Horace, Epistles 1.11.27]. The tireless enemy follows me close, and the assaults I suffer in the desert are fiercer than ever. The Arian madness rages, and the powers of this world back it. The church here is split into three factions, and each one is eager to claim me. The monks' hostility is long-standing, and it is directed squarely at me. Meanwhile I keep repeating: "Whoever clings to the chair of Peter is accepted by me." Meletius, Vitalis, and Paulinus all profess to be in communion with you. I could believe this if only one of them said it. As it stands, either two of them or all three are lying. Therefore I implore Your Blessedness — by our Lord's cross and passion, those indispensable pillars of our faith — since you hold an apostolic office, give me an apostolic answer. Just tell me by letter with whom I should be in communion in Syria, and I will pray that you may sit enthroned in judgment with the Twelve [Matthew 19:28]; that when you grow old, like Peter, you may be "girded by another" [John 21:18]; and that, like Paul, you may be granted citizenship in the heavenly kingdom. Do not despise a soul for which Christ died.

To Pope Damasus This letter, written a few months after the preceding, is another appeal to Damasus to solve the writer's doubts. Jerome once more refers to his baptism at Rome, and declares that his one answer to the factions at Antioch is, He who clings to the chair of Peter is accepted by me. Written from the desert in the year 377 or 378. 1. By her importunity the widow in the gospel at last gained a hearing, Matthew 15:28 and by the same means one friend induced another to give him bread at midnight, when his door was shut and his servants were in bed. Luke 11:7-8 The publican's prayers overcame God, Luke 18:10-14 although God is invincible. Nineveh was saved by its tears from the impending ruin caused by its sin. Jonah 3:5, 10 To what end, you ask, these far-fetched references? To this end, I make answer; that you in your greatness should look upon me in my littleness; that you, the rich shepherd, should not despise me, the ailing sheep. Christ Himself brought the robber from the cross to paradise, Luke 23:43 and, to show that repentance is never too late, He turned a murderer's death into a martyrdom. Gladly does Christ embrace the prodigal son when he returns to Him; Luke 15:20 and, leaving the ninety and nine, the good shepherd carries home on His shoulders the one poor sheep that is left. Luke 15:5 From a persecutor Paul becomes a preacher. His bodily eyes are blinded to clear the eyes of his soul, Acts 9:8 and he who once haled Christ's servants in chains before the council of the Jews, Acts 8:3 lives afterwards to glory in the bonds of Christ. 2 Corinthians 12:10 2. As I have already written to you, I, who have received Christ's garb in Rome, am now detained in the waste that borders Syria. No sentence of banishment, however, has been passed upon me; the punishment which I am undergoing is self-inflicted. But, as the heathen poet says: They change not mind but sky who cross the sea. The untiring foe follows me closely, and the assaults that I suffer in the desert are severer than ever. For the Arian frenzy raves, and the powers of the world support it. The church is rent into three factions, and each of these is eager to seize me for its own. The influence of the monks is of long standing, and it is directed against me. I meantime keep crying: He who clings to the chair of Peter is accepted by me. Meletius, Vitalis, and Paulinus all profess to cleave to you, and I could believe the assertion if it were made by one of them only. As it is, either two of them or else all three are guilty of falsehood. Therefore I implore your blessedness, by our Lord's cross and passion, those necessary glories of our faith, as you hold an apostolic office, to give an apostolic decision. Only tell me by letter with whom I am to communicate in Syria, and I will pray for you that you may sit in judgment enthroned with the twelve; Matthew 19:28 that when you grow old, like Peter, you may be girded not by yourself but by another, John 21:18 and that, like Paul, you may be made a citizen of the heavenly kingdom. Do not despise a soul for which Christ died. 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/3001016.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.