ABSTRACT

AMONG the leading representatives of Christian thought in the IVth century St Jerome had a special career.

paene judicio dignus s u m m o sacerdotio decernebar." A cabal drove him from the Pontificate, and we can believe that he consoled himself for this without difficulty since he was able t o retain his precious liberty. He accepted the priesthood on one express condition namely that of remaining a monk and free from any link with the life of the worldqa We can see in him a very clear purpose to eliminate from his life anything that could intrude upon his complete independence and impair its fruitfulness.