Letter 8004: Among the apostolic ranks and the holy prophets,
IV
Ad Virgines
Inter apostolicas acies sacrosque prophetas
proxima martyribus praemia virgo tenet.
splendida sidereo circumdata lumine pergens
iungitur angelicis casta puella choris.
fruge pudicitiae caeli dotanda talento
aeterni regis ducitur in thalamis.
pulchra corona caput triplici diademate cingit
et gemmae exornant pectora colla comam.
induitur teneris superaddita purpura membris
et candore nivis fulgida palla tegit.
floribus aeternis oculos rosa lilia pascunt,
et paradisiacus naribus intrat odor.
unde magis, dulcis, hortamur ut ista requiras
quae dedit Eugeniae Christus et alma Theclae.
virgo dei, fructus caeli, victoria mundi
ut semper regnes, has pete regis opes.
sunt ibi chrysolithis fabricata palatia gemmis
atque zmaragdineo ianua poste viret.
limina sardonychum variato lumine florent
et hyacintheus circuit ordo domum.
aurea tecta micant, plebs aurea fulget in aula
et cum rege pio turba corusca nitet.
ille puellarum locus est, quae lucis amore
hic servant domino corpore mente fidem.
despice quod terrae est, et clara sedebis in astris,
Christi ut sponsa placens regna superna colas.
praesens vita nimis fugitivo tempore transit:
virginis integritas glorificanda manet.
paupertas te parva rogat cum divite Christo,
ut venias nostro dulcis alumna sinu,
quo patris auxilium domino obtentura preceris
atque tibi caelis regna beata pares,
ut pariter sanctae merearis iuncta Mariae
gaudia perpetuo concelebrare choro.
has quaecumque piis manibus susceperis arras
non nuptura homini, sed sis amata dei.
Related Letters
Æmona was a Roman colony not far from Stridon, Jerome's birthplace. The virgins to whom the note is addressed had omitted to answer his letters, and he now writes to upbraid them for their remissness. The date of the letter is 374 A.D.
I need you to act in concert with Paulinus of Tauriana, Proclus of Nicoteras, and Paludius of Consentia on the...
The matter I am writing about concerns the proper governance of your church and the obligations of the faithful to...
For the celebration of the dedication of the church, you are to provide the following for distribution to the poor:...
I need your help in compelling Stephen, who holds episcopal office, to submit himself to the judgment he has been...