Quae scripturae sint authenticae.
The Greatness of Origen and Augustine
Origen's vast output surpasses all Greek and Latin writers, yet Augustine exceeds them all in brilliance and sheer volume of scriptural work.
Among our own writers active among the Greeks, Origen surpassed both Greeks and Latins alike in the sheer number of his works on Scripture. Jerome himself confesses to having read six thousand of his books. Yet Augustine surpassed the efforts of all these writers combined, in brilliance and in learning alike. He wrote so much that no one can keep up day and night — not only writing his books, but even reading them.
A Catalogue of Catholic Authors
A comprehensive roll-call of distinguished Catholic authors from Athanasius through Arator, noting Origen's ambiguous standing in the Church.
Other Catholic authors too wrote many distinguished works: Athanasius bishop of Alexandria, Hilary bishop of Poitiers, Basil bishop of Cappadocia, Gregory the Theologian, and Gregory bishop of Nazianzus, Ambrose bishop of Milan, Theophilus bishop of Alexandria, John bishop of Constantinople, Cyril of Alexandria, Pope Leo, Proculus, Isidore of Seville, Bede, Cyprian martyr and bishop of Carthage, Jerome the priest, Prosper, Origen — whose writings the church neither rejects outright nor accepts entirely — Orosius, Sedulius, Prudentius, Juvencus, and Arator.
Rufinus and Gelasius Weighed
Rufinus's translations are accepted only where they align with Jerome's judgment, while Gelasius is noted for his doctrinal works against heretics and his sacramental writings.
Rufinus too published many books and translated certain scriptures, but because blessed Jerome took issue with him on some points regarding free will, we ought to hold the views Jerome holds on those matters. Gelasius likewise wrote five books against Nestorius and Eutyches, and treatises in the style of Ambrose. He also wrote two books against Arius, along with expositions of the sacraments, prayers, and letters on the faith.
Dionysius, Eusebius, and Cassiodorus
Dionysius the Areopagite left many intellectual volumes, Eusebius's historical works are retained despite his doctrinal failings, and Cassiodorus contributed a useful exposition of the Psalms.
Dionysius the Areopagite, ordained bishop of the Corinthians, left behind many volumes of his own intellectual work. Likewise the Chronicles of Eusebius of Caesarea and his books of ecclesiastical history — although he was lukewarm in the first book of his narrative, and afterward wrote one book in praise and defense of Origen the schismatic — yet because of the remarkable knowledge of matters that serve instruction, the Catholic Church does not wholly reject them. Cassiodorus too wrote a useful enough work on the explanation of the Psalms.
Other Writers Passed Over
Hugh acknowledges still other authors whose names he omits from this account.
There are still others whose names I am passing over here.
Read the original Latin
De nostris apud Graecos, Origenes in scripturarum labore tam Graecos quam Latinos operum suorum numero superavit. denique Hieronymus sex milia librorum eius legisse fatetur. horum tamen omnium studia Augustinus ingenio vel scientia sui vicit. nam tanta scripsit, ut diebus ac noctibus non solum scribere libros eius quisquam, sed nec legere quidem occurrat. scripserunt et alii catholici viri multa et insignia opera: Athanasius Alexandrinus episcopus, Hilarius Pictaviensis episcopus, Basilius Cappadocenus episcopus, Gregorius Theologus, et Gregorius Nazianzenus episcopus, Ambrosius Mediolanensis episcopus, Theophilus Alexandrinus episcopus, Ioannes Constantinopulitanus episcopus, Cyrillus Alexandrinus, Leo papa, Proculus, Isidorus Hispalensis, Beda, Cyprianus martyr et Carthaginiensis episcopus, Hieronymus presbyter, Prosper, Origenes, cuius scripta nec omnino refutat nec per omnia recipit ecclesia, Orosius, Sedulius, Prudentius, Iuvencus, Arator. et Rufinus multos libros edidit, et interpretatus est quasdam scripturas, sed quoniam beatus Hieronymus in aliquibus eum de arbitrii libertate notavit, illa sentire debemus quae Hieronymus. Gelasius etiam fecit libros quinque adversus Nestorium et Eutychem, et tractatus in modum Ambrosii. item libros duos adversus Arium fecit, etiam sacramentorum praestationes et orationes et epistulas fidei.
Dionysius Areopagita, episcopus ordinatus Corinthiorum, multa ingenii sui volumina reliquit. item Chronica Eusebii Caesariensis atque eiusdem historiae ecclesiasticae libros, quamvis in primo narrationis suae libro tepuerit, et post in laudibus atque excusatione Origenis schismatici unum conscripserit librum, propter rerum tamen singularem notitiam, quae ad instructionem pertinet, non usquequaque ecclesia catholica refutat. Cassiodorus quoque, qui in explanatione Psalmorum satis utile opus scripsit. sunt adhuc alii quorum nomina hic taceo.
Didascalicon de Studio Legendi (On the Study of Reading) companion
Hugh said begin with small daily portions. Start tomorrow.
Chosen Portion serves one short, ordered devotional reading each day — the medieval lectio pattern, free on iOS.
Hugh taught that formation comes from ordered, incremental daily reading, and Chosen Portion is that ordered daily portion delivered to your phone.
- A curated daily portion in 2-3 minutes, no decision fatigue about what to read
- Progress through complete historic works in order, the way Hugh prescribed
- Free app plus a weekly email unpacking one reading in depth