Reading And Doing

Divinarum Scripturarum ardor erat incredibilis, semperque cantabat: In corde meo abscondi eloquia tua, ut non peccem tibi. Et illud de perfecto viro; Et in lege Domini voluntas ejus, et in lege eius meditabitur die et nocte. Meditationem legis non in replicando quae scripta sint, ut Judaeorum existiment Pharisaei; sed in opere intelligens, juxta illud Apostolicum: Sive comeditis, sive bibitis, sive quid agitis; omnia in gloriam Domini facientes. Et Prophetae verba dicentes: A mandatis tuis intellexi, ut postquam mandata complesset, tunc se sciret mereri intelligentiam Scripturarum. Quod et alibi legimus: Quia coepit Jesus facere et docere. Erubescit enim quamvis praeclara doctrina, quam propria reprehendit conscientia; frustaque ejus lingua praedicat paupertatem, et docet eleemosynas, qui Croesi divitiis tumet; vilique opertus pallio, pugnat contra tineas vestium sericarum. Sanctus Hieronymus, Epistula CXXVII, Ad Principiam Virginem Source:  Migne PL 22 1089

Marcella's zeal for the Divine Scriptures was incredible. She was for ever singing, 'Your words have I stored away in my heart that I might not sin against you,' 1 as well as the words which describe the perfect man: 'His delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law he meditates day and night.' 2 This meditation in the law she understood not as a review of the written words, as among the Jews the Pharisees think, but of action according to that saying of the Apostle, 'Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.' 3 She remembered also the Prophet's words, 'By your commandments I have gained understanding,' 4 and felt sure that only when she had fulfilled these would she be worthy to understand the Scriptures. In this sense we read elsewhere that 'Jesus began both to do and teach.' 5 For the greatest teaching blushes when one's own conscience rebukes one, and it is in vain that a man's tongue preach poverty or teach almsgiving if he rolls in the riches of Croesus and if, in spite of a threadbare cloak, he has silken robes at home to protect from the moth. St Jerome, from Letter 127, To The Nun Principia 1 Ps 118.11 2 Ps 1.2 3 1 Cor 10.31 4 Ps 118.104 5 Acts 1.1