I need to find the exact page reference, text, etc. for this quotation
from Saint Jerome's Commentary on Ezekiel, "There is naught in the
Gospels, which does not shine and illuminate the world by its splendor
so that even things that seem trifling and unimportant shine with the
majesty of the Holy Spirit."
The incomplete reference to this quotation comes from Ralph Woods (ed)
(1966), p. 685 book, The World Treasury of Religious Quotations. I
need the complete reference. The only Google reference I could find
was from the site Christian Heritage Ministries: Articles and
Interviews, but I could not find the reference there at all. I need
the complete reference (for a reference citation for a book.)
I hope some Biblical scholar can help. Is this a job for Scriptor?
Thanks,
Sylvia |
Clarification of Question by
sylk-ga
on
13 May 2005 14:25 PDT
To clarify--I am in need of a primary reference--that is, where in
Saint Jerome's actual writing commentary can one find this quotation?
Thank you,
Sylvia
|
Request for Question Clarification by
scriptor-ga
on
13 May 2005 18:06 PDT
Dear Sylvia,
Welcome back! And thank you so much for remembering me!
Your new question proves to be a tough nut to crack. Much to my
surprise, I can't find an online version of St. Jerome's "Commentary
on Ezekiel" anywhere - although that commentary is an important
writing.
Currently, I have found out the following:
- The full quotation (in English) is: "That the entire body and the
back were full of eyes will be plain to anybody who realizes that
there is nought in the Gospels which does not shine and illumine the
world by its splendor, so that even things that seem trifling and
unimportant shine with the majesty of the Holy Spirit."
- It is most likely part of Jerome's famous interpretation of
Ezechiel's first vision (Ez 1:4-28). In particular, the quote refers
to Ezekiel 1:15-18.
- It is quoted in pope Benedict XV's encyclical on St. Jerome,
"Spiritus Paraclitus", from 1920:
http://www.thecatholiclibrary.org/Docs/Popes/258_Benedict_XV/Encyclicals/spiritus_paraclitus.html
- St. Jerome's "Commentary on Ezekiel" consists of 14 books. It is
possible that the interpretation of Ezekiel's first vision is in one
of the first 6 books, because the Cologne Cathedral Library owns an
8th century manuscript of that writing, but only books 7 to 14. A note
on that manuscript in the library's database says:
"(The manuscript) begins only with the seventh book. Therefore, the
famous interpretation of the four beings from the vision as symbols of
the Evangelists (Ez. 1:4-28) [...] is missing."
http://www.ceec.uni-koeln.de/ceec-cgi/kleioc/0010/exec/katm/%22kn28-0051%22
But without the writing itself, I have not been able to find anything
that would make a real reference. I will try to find a source in the
library tomorrow.
I'll let you know the results of my real-world research as soon as possible!
Greetings,
Scriptor
|
Clarification of Question by
sylk-ga
on
13 May 2005 19:08 PDT
Dear Scriptor,
|
Clarification of Question by
sylk-ga
on
13 May 2005 19:18 PDT
Dear Scriptor,
Of course, I remember you! I will never forget how you found
that Goethe reference for me. If anyone can find this Saint Jerome
reference, I figure it would be you. I am so pleased you are still
with Google.
Before I contacted you, I had tried to obtain the fourteen books
of Saint Jerome also, but even the main branch of the New York Public
Library did not seem to have any record of it. It is quite puzzling.
I even purchased from Barnes and Noble today "The New Jerome Biblical
Commentary"--thinking it was St. Jerome's writings, but alas, it is a
composite of many biblical scholars--and does not seem to quote Jerome
at all.
Thank you so much for any help you can offer. If we really
cannot get a primary source, I suppose I could settle for the
reference you found on Pope Benedict XV (I'll need more detailed
information on it, though), but let's keep trying for a primary
reference.
Best,
Sylvia
|
Request for Question Clarification by
scriptor-ga
on
14 May 2005 10:52 PDT
Dear Sylvia,
It was impossible for me to get to the library today; I will make up
for it immediately after the holiday weekend.
In the meantime, additional research has produced some information
that might be useful for you:
- The New York University Bobst Library has a series of books with the
title "S. Hieronymi Presbyteri Opera"; those are the collected works
of St. Jerome, published in 1958. The "Opera" contains Jerome's
"Commentariorum in Hiezechielem libri XIV" (Commentary on Ezekiel in
fourteen books). That is the work the quotation derives from, if all
we know so far is correct. Unfortunately, no New York library seems to
have an English edition of Jerome's collected works. But a Latin
version may at least be a bit helpful.
- In the databases of the Vatican, I have found the official English
version of Benedict XV's 1920 encyclical "Spiritus Paraclitus" which
contains the quotation. This is, at least, proof that the quote is
authentic:
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xv/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xv_enc_15091920_spiritus-paraclitus_en.html
- I have found out that the Hamburg State and University Library
(Hamburg in Germany, that is) also has a copy of the "Opera". If
everything else fails, I will travel to Hamburg and try to search the
book myself for the quotation.
So much for my current status report.
Greetings,
Scriptor
|
Clarification of Question by
sylk-ga
on
14 May 2005 11:46 PDT
Dear Scriptor,
Your work has been extremely helpful--no need to go to Hamburg for
further research. The reference from Pope Benedict XV should be good
enough--and far better than the orginal reference I had from the 1966
Woods quotation book. I printed out Benedict's work from the site you
had given me and found the exact quotation, just as you had said. I
would consider the question answered in as expert a manner as
possible. Thank you again for all your help--and particularly the
speed with which you provided me with all this background material.
My best to you, as always. It isalways a special pleasure to read
your erudite answers to my research questions.
Sylvia
|
Clarification of Question by
sylk-ga
on
14 May 2005 11:53 PDT
Clarification addendum: Scriptor has answered this question
completely to my satisfaction. Please charge my account. Thank you,
Sylvia
|
Thank you very much, dear Sylvia! Working for you is always a very
special pleasure!
All the best,
Scriptor |
Clarification of Answer by
scriptor-ga
on
13 Jun 2005 15:21 PDT
Dear Sylvia,
I hope it is not too confusing that I use this older question to
communicate with you; unfortunately, I don't have a better method to
contact you.
Please don't worry. I admit that the situation is a bit tricky. I have
written the editors and notified you of our little problem. The second
question you posted is currently locked by them, but much to my
surprise they are doing nothing. Also, they have not yet responded to
my request to re-open the Emmanuel Karasu question, should that be
possible. I feel quite helpless at the moment.
If everything else fails, you could always post a "replacement"
question, for example one titled "For Scriptor-ga only", with a purely
symbolic text like "This question should only be answered by
Scriptor-ga". But this would be the workaround solution if nothing
else works.
I hope that the editors answer my request for help soon. If they
re-open the original question, everything will be fine. Let's simply
wait and see. And as I already said, don't worry :-)
All the best,
Scriptor
|
Clarification of Answer by
scriptor-ga
on
13 Jun 2005 16:36 PDT
Dear Sylvia,
Thank you for posting the replacement question :-)
Unfortunately, the editors have (automatically) locked it ... I don't
know what they are doing at the moment, since your previous question
is also still locked by them. I'm rather helpless because all I can do
is write e-mails to the editors and ask them for help ... but they
seem to be occupied with other matters.
Nevertheless, I'm optimistic that all will come to a good end. If the
editors release one of your follow-up questions, I'll post an answer
and you can add a tip with the amount you consider adequate for the
results of my research. There is a solution for every problem :-)
All the best and thank you for your patience,
Scriptor
|
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