CHAPTER X

HOW RELIGIOUS ARE ATTACKED ON ACCOUNT OF THE JOURNEYS WHICH THEY UNDERTAKE FOR THE SALVATION OF SOULS

We will, in this chapter, consider the charges brought against religious on account of their journeying.

             1. St. Paul says (2 Thess. iii. 11), "We have heard that there are some among you that walk disorderly." On account of this text, religious who travel, are called by their enemies wanderers (gyrovagi).

             2. The following words of St. Augustine, are, likewise, quoted against them, "Some monks," he says, "bear no commission; yet they are never quiet, never settled, never at rest" (De oper. Monach.).

             3. On the words, "Wheresoever you shall enter into a house, there abide" (Mark vi. 10), the Gloss says: "It is not becoming in a preacher, to run from house to house, and to change the place wherein he enjoys hospitality."

             4. The following words of Isaias, (xxx. 7), are quoted in the same sense: "Therefore, have I cried concerning this: It is pride; only sit still," i.e. "abide in thine own land" (Gloss).

             5. Again, we read in the Prophet Jeremias (xiv  10): "This people have loved to move their feet, they have not rested, and have not pleased the Lord."

             This accusation of restlessness, brought against preachers, is nothing new. For Dionysius, in his epistle to Apolophanius, says, that, when he was still a Gentile, he used to call St. Paul a wanderer round the world, because he obeyed the command of Our Lord: "going therefore into the whole world, preach the Gospel to every creature" (Mark xvi. 15).

             1. In the Gospel of St. John (xv. 16), we, also, read, that Christ said to His disciples: "I have chosen you that you should go, and should bring forth fruit."

             2. The journeyings of preachers are symbolised by the words in Job, (xxxvii. 11), "The clouds spread their light; they go round about, whithersoever the will of Him that governeth them shall lead them, to whatsoever he shall command them upon the face of the whole earth." The Gloss hereon observes: "The clouds that spread their light, typify holy preachers, who, by word and deed, propagate the example of a good life, and who illuminate all around them, because, by their preaching, they enlighten the ends of the earth."

             3. Again the words in Job (xxxviii. 25), "who gave a course to violent showers?" is interpreted, by the Gloss and by St. Gregory, (Moral.), of the journeys of preachers.

             4. We read (Zach. vi. 7), "they that were most strong went out, and sought to go, and went to and fro through all the earth." The Gloss again understands these words to refer to the Apostles, and to other preachers.

             5. St. Paul says (Rom. xvi.), "Salute them that are of Narcissus' household." The Gloss remarks, that, this Narcissus is said, in other codices, to have been a priest who journeyed about, in order to confirm the brethren in the faith.

             6. "When they shall rush in unto Jacob" (i.e., "to preach," says the Gloss), "they shall fill the face of the world with seed" (Isa. xxvii. 6), i.e. "the seed of preaching" (Gloss).

             7. In the Book of Proverbs (vi. 3), we find the words: "Run about, make haste, stir up thy friend" (i.e. "from the sleep of sin," Gloss). Now, sinners are awakened by preaching. Therefore, journeys undertaken by preachers for the salvation of souls, are praiseworthy.

             8. "This was the vision running to and fro in the midst of the living creatures" (Ezek. i. 13). St. Gregory writes (in homil. V. I. part super Ezech.): "They who are the pastors of souls, and who have undertaken the duty of feeding their flock, ought but rarely to change their place of abode. But, they who journey abroad to preach, are as wheels of fire, which move from place to place, by the force of the flame of that holy desire which both consumes the preacher, and inflames his hearers." This passage teaches us two lessons, viz. that it is permissible for others, besides prelates, to preach; and, that preachers ought to move from place to place, instead of remaining always in one spot.

             9. St. Gregory, in the same homily, commenting on the words of Ezek. i., "When they walked it was like the voice of a multitude, like the noise of an army," says, "The camps of preachers move from one place to another, labouring for the salvation of souls." We see, therefore, from all the passages that have been cited, that the journeys undertaken by preachers, in their zeal for souls, are highly to be commended.

             But, we must note, that the Holy Scripture blames three classes of men who wander about. The first class consists of those, whose restless and changeable disposition causes them to roam hither and thither, and whose journeys produce no fruit. The second class is composed of those who travel about in hopes of material profit. The third class is formed of those whose journeys are undertaken from some evil motive, and to accomplish some sinful end. Of all these three orders of men, St. Jude writes: "Woe unto them, for they have gone in the way of Cain, and after the error of Balaam, they have for reward poured out themselves. These are spots in their banquets, feasting together without fear, feeding themselves, clouds without water which are carried about by winds, trees of the autumn, unfruitful" (Epist. i. 11). By these words is typified the unfruitfulness of journeys which are undertaken through frivolous motives. The Apostle blames the men, of whom we have been speaking, for the levity, or inordinate desires, which cause them to travel abroad. The Gloss says, that the words of St. Jude refer to such as seek food, by unworthy means, or inquisitive disquiet.

             2. St. Augustine, when he speaks of monks, who, although they bear no commission, are never settled, never quiet, means that their journeys are undertaken from frivolous or avaricious motives. This is clear by the context, wherein he blames them for running about in quest of lucre.

             3. The words quoted from St. Mark vi. and St. Luke x. plainly allude to men, whose inordinate desires induce them to run from house to house, in hopes of being supplied more abundantly with food, by one family, than by another.

             4. The text of Isaias (xxx.), warns us against that inconstancy of mind, which tempts the man whose soul rests not in God, to flit from one object to another, finding rest in none. The words, in their literal sense, refer to the Jews, who, not satisfied with the Divine assistance accorded to them, desired to go down into Egypt, to seek protection from the Egyptians. The words quoted from Jeremias are, likewise, a warning against that love of wandering about which arises from lightness of mind. This appears by the context, "This people have loved to move their feet." For, they who move easily, delight in motion. And the Gloss, in this passage, explains the movement of the feet to mean, movement of the affections.