The Church Of Rome

Vultis scire, o Paula et Eustochium, quomodo Apostolus unamquamque provinciam suis proprietatibus denotarit? Usque hodie eadem vel virtutum vestigia permanent, vel errorum. Romanae plebis laudatur fides. Ubi alibi tanto studio et frequentia, ad Ecclesias et ad Martyrum sepulcra concurritur? ubi sic ad similitudinem coelestis tonitrui Amen reboat, et vacua idolorum templa quatiuntur? Non quod aliam habeant Romani fidem, nisi hanc quam omnes Christi Ecclesiae: sed quod devotio in eis major sit, et simplicitas ad credendum. Rursum facilitatis et superbiae arguuntur. Facilitatis, ut ibi: Rogo vos, fratres, ut observetis eos qui dissensiones et offendicula, praeter doctrinam quam vos didicistis, faciunt; et declinate ab illis: hujusmodi enim Christo Domino non serviunt, sed suo ventri; et per dulces sermones et benedictiones seducunt corda innocentium. Vestra enim obedientia in omnem locum pervulgata est. Gaudeo igitur in vobis: et volo vos sapientes esse in bono, et simplices in malo. Superbiae vero: Noli altum sapere, sed time. Et: Nolo vos ignorare, fratres, mysterium hoc, ut non sitis ipsi vobis sapientes. Et in sequentibus: Dico enim per gratiam quae data est mihi, omnibus qui sunt inter vos: non plus sapere quam oportet sapere; sed sapere ad sobrietatem. Et apertius: Gaudere cum gaudentibus, flere cum flentibus. Idipsum invicem sentientes. Non alta sapientes; sed humilibus consentientes. Nolite esse prudentes apud vosmetipsos. Sanctus Hieronymus, Commentariorum in Epistolam ad Galatas, Liber II Source: Migne PL 26.355b-356a

Do you wish to know, O Paula and Eustochium how the Apostle describes each province according to its own characteristic? Even until today remain the same traces of virtues, or errors. The faith of the Roman people is praised. 1 Where else do they hurry to the Churches and tombs of the Martyrs with such zeal and so often? Where else does Amen resound like a thunderclap in the sky, and where else are the empty temples of idols shaken? Not that the Romans have a different faith to that which all Christ's Churches have, but their devotion is greater and also their simplicity in belief. Yet they are rebuked for their pliability and pride. For pliability, where Paul says: 'I ask you, brothers, that you watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstructions contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them; such folk do not serve the Lord Christ but their own appetites. By charming talk and flattery they seduce the hearts of the innocent. Your obedience is known everywhere. Therefore I rejoice over you and wish you to be wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil.' 2 And for pride where he says: 'Do not have high minds, but fear.' 3 And: 'I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be wise to yourselves.' And later on: 'By the grace which has been given to me, I say to every one of you: do not know more than you should know, think soberly.' 4 And more openly: 'Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise to yourselves.' 5 Saint Jerome, Commentary on the Letter to the Galatians, Book 2 1 Rom 1.8 2 Rom 16.17-19 3 Rom 2.20, 25 4 Rom 12.3 5 Rom 12.15-16