Letter 5: 1. Your letter, dear friend, finds me dwelling in that quarter of the desert which is nearest to Syria and the Saracens. And the reading of it rekindles in my mind so keen a desire to set out for Jerusalem that I am almost ready to violate my monastic vow in order to gratify my affection.

To Florentius Your letter, dear friend, finds me living in the part of the desert nearest to Syria and the Saracens. Reading it has rekindled in me such a burning desire to set out for Jerusalem that I'm practically ready to break my monastic vow just to satisfy my affection. Doing the best I can, since I can't come in person I send you a letter instead; and so, though absent in body, I come to you in love and in spirit. My deepest prayer is that this young friendship of ours, firmly rooted in Christ as it is, may never be torn apart by time or distance. We should be strengthening the bond through an exchange of letters. Let them pass between us, meet each other on the road, and hold our conversations for us. Affection won't lose much if it keeps up this kind of communication. You write that our brother Rufinus hasn't arrived yet. Even if he does come, it will do little to satisfy my longing, since I won't be able to see him. He's too far away to travel here, and the demands of the solitary life I've chosen forbid me from going to him. I'm no longer free to follow my own inclinations. So I beg you: ask him to let you have the commentaries of the reverend Rhetitius, bishop of Autun, copied -- the ones in which he so brilliantly explained the Song of Songs. A countryman of Rufinus's, the old man Paul, writes that Rufinus has his copy of Tertullian and urgently wants it back. Beyond that, I need you to have a copyist write out on paper certain books that the attached list will show I'm missing. I also ask that you send me the commentary on the Psalms of David and the extensive work on Church Councils by the reverend Hilary, which I copied out with my own hand for him at Trier. Books like these, you understand, must be the food of the Christian soul if it is to meditate on the law of the Lord day and night. Other people you welcome under your roof, cherish, comfort, and support out of your own pocket. As far as I'm concerned, you will have given me everything the moment you grant this request. And since, through the Lord's generosity, I'm well stocked with volumes of the sacred library, you may command me in return. I'll send you whatever you like. Don't imagine that filling your order will give me any trouble. I have students who are devoted to the art of copying. And I don't merely promise a favor because I'm asking one. Our brother Heliodorus tells me there are many parts of the Scriptures that you're looking for and can't find. But even if you have them all already, affection always asserts its rights and goes looking for more than it possesses. As for the current holder of your slave -- about whom you've done me the honor of writing -- I have no doubt he kidnapped the man. While I was still in Antioch, the priest Evagrius confronted him about it more than once in my presence. His reply: "I have nothing to fear. He says his master set him free." If you both want the man back, he's right here -- send him wherever you wish. I think I'm right to refuse to let a runaway stray any further. Out here in the wilderness I can't personally carry out your instructions, so I've asked my good friend Evagrius to pursue the matter vigorously, both for your sake and mine. I wish you well in Christ.

To Florentius Written a few months after the preceding (about the end of 374 A.D.) from the Syrian Desert. After dilating on his friendship for Florentius, and making a passing allusion to Rufinus, Jerome mentions certain books, copies of which he desires to be sent to him. He also speaks of a runaway slave about whom Florentius had written to him. 1. Your letter, dear friend, finds me dwelling in that quarter of the desert which is nearest to Syria and the Saracens. And the reading of it rekindles in my mind so keen a desire to set out for Jerusalem that I am almost ready to violate my monastic vow in order to gratify my affection. Wishing to do the best I can, as I cannot come in person I send you a letter instead; and thus, though absent in the body, I come to you in love and in spirit. Colossians 2:5 For my earnest prayer is that our infant friendship, firmly cemented as it is in Christ, may never be rent asunder by time or distance. We ought rather to strengthen the bond by an interchange of letters. Let these pass between us, meet each other on the way, and converse with us. Affection will not lose much if it keeps up an intercourse of this kind. 2. You write that our brother, Rufinus, has not yet come to you. Even if he does come it will do little to satisfy my longing, for I shall not now be able to see him. He is too far away to come hither, and the conditions of the lonely life that I have adopted forbid me to go to him. For I am no longer free to follow my own wishes. I entreat you, therefore, to ask him to allow you to have the commentaries of the reverend Rhetitius, bishop of Augustodunum, copied, in which he has so eloquently explained the Song of Songs. A countryman of the aforesaid brother Rufinus, the old man Paul, writes that Rufinus has his copy of Tertullian, and urgently requests that this may be returned. Next I have to ask you to get written on paper by a copyist certain books which the subjoined list will show you that I do not possess. I beg also that you will send me the explanation of the Psalms of David, and the copious work on Synods of the reverend Hilary, which I copied for him at Trêves with my own hand. Such books, you know, must be the food of the Christian soul if it is to meditate in the law of the Lord day and night. Others you welcome beneath your roof, you cherish and comfort, you help out of your own purse; but so far as I am concerned, you have given me everything when once you have granted my request. And since, through the Lord's bounty, I am rich in volumes of the sacred library, you may command me in turn. I will send you what you please; and do not suppose that an order from you will give me trouble. I have pupils devoted to the art of copying. Nor do I merely promise a favor because I am asking one. Our brother, Heliodorus, tells me that there are many parts of the Scriptures which you seek and cannot find. But even if you have them all, affection is sure to assert its rights and to seek for itself more than it already has. 3. As regards the present master of your slave — of whom you have done me the honor to write — I have no doubt but that he is his kidnapper. While I was still at Antioch the presbyter, Evagrius, often reproved him in my presence. To whom he made this answer: I have nothing to fear. He declares that his master has dismissed him. If you both want him, he is here; send him whither you will. I think I am not wrong in refusing to allow a runaway to stray farther. Here in the wilderness I cannot myself execute your orders; and therefore I have asked my dear friend Evagrius to push the affair vigorously, both for your sake and for mine. I desire your welfare in Christ. 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/3001005.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.