Letter 17: In this letter, addressed to one who seems to have had some pre-eminence among the monks of the Chalcidian desert, Jerome complains of the hard treatment meted out to him because of his refusal to take any part in the great theological dispute then raging in Syria. He protests his own orthodoxy, and begs permission to remain where he is until th...

Letter 17: To the Presbyter Marcus (378-379 AD) [Addressed to a leader among the monks of the Chalcidian desert. Jerome complains bitterly about the persecution he is suffering for refusing to take sides in the theological dispute then convulsing Syria. He protests his orthodoxy and begs permission to stay through the winter before leaving the desert for good.] 1. I had made up my mind to follow the psalmist's example: "While the wicked was before me, I kept silence; I was humbled, and held my peace, even from speaking good... I was like a deaf man who hears not, like a dumb man who opens not his mouth" [Psalm 39:1-2, 38:13-14]. But love conquers all [1 Corinthians 13:7], and my regard for you overrules my resolution. I care less about striking back at my attackers than about responding to your request. For among Christians, as someone rightly said, the unhappy man is not the one who endures an insult but the one who inflicts it. 2. Before I speak about my faith — which you already know perfectly well — I have to protest the sheer inhumanity of this country. A well-worn quotation captures my situation exactly: "What savages are these who will not grant / a rest to strangers, even on their sands! / They threaten war and drive us from their coasts" [Virgil, Aeneid 1.539-40]. I borrow from a pagan poet because people who ignore the peace of Christ might at least learn what it means from a heathen. I am called a heretic — even though I preach the consubstantial Trinity. I am accused of Sabellianism — even though I proclaim, without pause, that in the Godhead there are three distinct, real, whole, and perfect persons. The Arians have reason to attack me; but the orthodox forfeit their orthodoxy when they assail a faith like mine. They may condemn me as a heretic if they like, but then they must also condemn Egypt and the West, Damasus and Peter. Why pin the guilt on one man and let his allies off scot-free? If there's only a trickle in the stream, blame the source, not the channel. I blush to say it, but here we are — monks of the desert, living in caves that serve as cells — and we presume to pass judgment on bishops. Rolling in sackcloth and ashes, we sentence bishops! What good is the garb of a penitent if it covers the pride of a king? Chains, filth, and long hair are properly the tokens of grief, not the insignia of royalty. All I ask is to be left in silence. Why do they torment a man who doesn't deserve their hostility? "He's a heretic," they say. What business is it of yours if I am? Keep quiet and that settles it. Are you afraid, perhaps, that with my fluent knowledge of Syriac and Greek I'll make a speaking tour of the churches, lead the people into error, and start a schism? I have robbed no one of anything; I have taken nothing I didn't earn. "With my own hands" [1 Corinthians 4:12], daily, "in the sweat of my brow" [Genesis 3:19], I labor for my food, knowing the apostle wrote: "If anyone will not work, let him not eat" [2 Thessalonians 3:10]. 3. Reverend and holy father, Jesus is my witness — I write this with groans and tears. "I have kept silence," says the Lord, "but shall I always keep silence? Surely not" [Isaiah 42:14]. I cannot have so much as a corner of the desert in peace. Every day they interrogate me about my confession of faith, as though I had made none when I was baptized. I accept their formulations; they are still dissatisfied. I sign my name to them; they still refuse to believe me. The only thing that will satisfy them is my departure. I am on the point of leaving. They have already torn from me my dear brothers, who are part of my very life. As you can see, my companions are desperate to leave — indeed, they are actually leaving. "Better to live among wild beasts," they say, "than among Christians like these." I myself would already be gone if I weren't held back by physical weakness and the severity of the winter. I ask only to be allowed the shelter of the desert until spring returns. Or, if even that seems too long, I am ready to go now. "The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof" [Psalm 24:1]. Let them climb to heaven alone! Let them be the sole beneficiaries of Christ's death! They possess all things and glory in all things. So be it. "But God forbid that I should glory, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified to me and I to the world" [Galatians 6:14]. 4. As for the questions about my faith that you thought fit to put to me: I have given the Reverend Cyril a written confession that answers them in full. Whoever does not believe as I have confessed has no part in Christ. My faith is already known to your own ears and to those of your blessed brother Zenobius, to whom — along with yourself — all of us here send our warmest greetings.

To the Presbyter Marcus In this letter, addressed to one who seems to have had some pre-eminence among the monks of the Chalcidian desert, Jerome complains of the hard treatment meted out to him because of his refusal to take any part in the great theological dispute then raging in Syria. He protests his own orthodoxy, and begs permission to remain where he is until the return of spring, when he will retire from the inhospitable desert. Written in A.D. 378 or 379. 1. I had made up my mind to use the words of the psalmist: While the wicked was before me I was dumb with silence; I was humbled, and I held my peace even from good and I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that opens not his mouth. Thus I was as a man that hears not. But charity overcomes all things, 1 Corinthians 13:7 and my regard for you defeats my determination. I am, indeed, less careful to retaliate upon my assailants than to comply with your request. For among Christians, as one has said, not he who endures an outrage is unhappy, but he who commits it. 2. And first, before I speak to you of my belief (which you know full well), I am forced to cry out against the inhumanity of this country. A hackneyed quotation best expresses my meaning: What savages are these who will not grant A rest to strangers, even on their sands! They threaten war and drive us from their coasts. I take this from a Gentile poet that one who disregards the peace of Christ may at least learn its meaning from a heathen. I am called a heretic, although I preach the consubstantial trinity. I am accused of the Sabellian impiety although I proclaim with unwearied voice that in the Godhead there are three distinct, real, whole, and perfect persons. The Arians do right to accuse me, but the orthodox forfeit their orthodoxy when they assail a faith like mine. They may, if they like, condemn me as a heretic; but if they do they must also condemn Egypt and the West, Damasus and Peter. Why do they fasten the guilt on one and leave his companions uncensured? If there is but little water in the stream, it is the fault, not of the channel, but of the source. I blush to say it, but from the caves which serve us for cells we monks of the desert condemn the world. Rolling in sack-cloth and ashes, we pass sentence on bishops. What use is the robe of a penitent if it covers the pride of a king? Chains, squalor, and long hair are by right tokens of sorrow, and not ensigns of royalty. I merely ask leave to remain silent. Why do they torment a man who does not deserve their ill-will? I am a heretic, you say. What is it to you if I am? Stay quiet, and all is said. You are afraid, I suppose, that, with my fluent knowledge of Syriac and Greek, I shall make a tour of the churches, lead the people into error, and form a schism! I have robbed no man of anything; neither have I taken what I have not earned. With my own hand 1 Corinthians 4:12 daily and in the sweat of my brow Genesis 3:19 I labor for my food, knowing that it is written by the apostle: If any will not work, neither shall he eat. 2 Thessalonians 3:10 3. Reverend and holy father, Jesus is my witness with what groans and tears I have written all this. I have kept silence, says the Lord, but shall I always keep silence? Surely not. I cannot have so much as a corner of the desert. Every day I am asked for my confession of faith; as though when I was regenerated in baptism I had made none. I accept their formulas, but they are still dissatisfied. I sign my name to them, but they still refuse to believe me. One thing only will content them, that I should leave the country. I am on the point of departure. They have already torn away from me my dear brothers, who are a part of my very life. They are, as you see, anxious to depart — nay, they are actually departing; it is preferable, they say, to live among wild beasts rather than with Christians such as these. I myself, too, would be at this moment a fugitive were I not withheld by physical infirmity and by the severity of the winter. I ask to be allowed the shelter of the desert for a few months till spring returns; or if this seems too long a delay, I am ready to depart now. The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof. Let them climb up to heaven alone; for them alone Christ died; they possess all things and glory in all. Be it so. But God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world. Galatians 6:14 4. As regards the questions which you have thought fit to put to me concerning the faith, I have given to the reverend Cyril a written confession which sufficiently answers them. He who does not so believe has no part in Christ. My faith is attested both by your ears and by those of your blessed brother, Zenobius, to whom, as well as to yourself, we all of us here send our best greeting. 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/3001017.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.