Document: Letter 38
Reference:
Incipit: Abraham tentatur in filio
Addressee: Marcella
Date: c. 385 (Fremont p. 47)
Earliest ms.: Karlsruhe, Germany: Badische Landesbibliothek, Aug.Perg.CV, between folios 124-200. 8-9th century. (Lambert, I: p. 531)
Latin Text: CSEL 54, pp. 289-293; Wright, pp. 158-166; Duff, pp. 166-70.
English Translation: Wright, pp. 159-167; Fremantle,  pp. 47-49
Notes: Blaesilla, the daughter of Paula and sister of Eustochium, had lost her husband seven months after her marriage. A dangerous illness had then led to her conversion, and she was now famous throughout Rome for the length to which she carried her austerities. Many censured her for what they deemed her fanaticism, and Jerome, as her spiritual adviser, came in for some of the blame. In the present letter he defends her conduct, and declares that persons who cavil at lives like hers have no claim to be considered Christians. Written at Rome in 385 A.D.
Bibliography:
Jerome Works Jerome Abbreviations
Letter 37 Letter 40

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