1. Inasmuch as I
have digressed in what I have said in the two former hooks, it is now
time, holy sister, to reconsider those precepts of Liberius This is
Liberius, Bishop of Rome a.d. 352–366,
who temporized with Arianism. [St. Hil. Pict. Fragm. VI.;
St. Athan. Apol. C. Arian. 89; Hist. Arian. 41; St.
Jerome, De Vir. Ill. 97, etc.] He subsequently returned to
the Catholic teaching and atoned by later acts for his temporary
weakness. of blessed memory which you used to talk
over with me, as the holier the man the more pleasing is his
discourse. For he, when on the Nativity of the Saviour in the
Church of St. Peter you signified your profession of virginity by your
change of attire Evidently a public
profession with receiving the veil, etc. (and what day
could be better than that on which the Virgin received her child?)
whilst many virgins were standing round and vying with each other for
your companionship. “You,” said he, “my
daughter, have desired a good espousal. You see how great a crowd
has come together for the birthday of your Spouse, and none has gone
away without food. This is He, Who, when invited to the marriage
feast, changed water into wine. S. John ii. 9. He,
too, will confer the pure sacrament of virginity on you who before were
subject to the vile elements of material nature. This is He Who
fed four thousand in the wilderness with five loaves and two
fishes.” S. Luke ix. 13. He
could have fed more; if more had been there to be fed, they would have
been. And now He has called many to your espousal, but it is not
now barley bread, but the Body from heaven which is
supplied.