The Henson Journals

[90]

Wednesday, December 17th, 1913.

'Indignum vehementer existimo, ut verba celestis

Oraculi restringam sub regulis Donati.'

Decreta. Prim Pars. Dist XXXVIII, c.13. [i.143]

This is an exact ecclesiastical parallel to the famous exclamation of Sigismund: "Ego [sum] rex Romannorum sum et super grammaticam". It is taken from a letter addressed by Gregory to the Bishop Leander.

'Ecclesiastica interpretatis etiamsi habet eloquii

Venustatem, dissimulare cam debet et fugere,

Ut non otiosis philosophorem scolis paucisque

discipulis, sed universo loquatur hominum generi'.

Although the Church's instruction has the

charm of eloquence, yet it ought to conceal &

avoid that charm, so that it may appeal, not

to the leisured schools of philosophers, & to a

few educated folk, but to the whole human race.

This is taken from S. Jerome's letter to Pammachius

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