The Lives of the Saints Volume 1 - St. Patrick's Basilica

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The inspired epistles of St. Paul were the favorite subject of this
saint's intense meditation, in which he studied the most sublime maxims,
and formed in himself the most perfect spirit of Christian virtue. The
epistle to the Romans is expounded by him in thirty-two homilies, (t. 9,
p. 429,) which he made at Antioch, as is clear from Hom. 8, p. 508, and
Hom. 30, p. 743. Nothing can go beyond the commendations which St
Isidore of Pelusium bestows on this excellent work, (l. 5, ep. 32,) to
which all succeeding ages have subscribed. The errors of Pelagius, which
were broached soon after in the West, are clearly guarded against by the
holy preacher, though he is more solicitous to confute the opposite
heresy of the Manichees, which then reigned in many parts of the East.
He also confounds frequently the Jews. But what we most admire is the
pious sagacity with which he unfolds the deep sense of the sacred text,
and its author, the true disciple of Christ, and the perspicuity and
eloquence with which he enforces his moral instructions. Whoever reads
anyone of these homilies, will hear testimony to this eulogium. See Hom.
24. (t. 9, p. 694,) {270} on the shortness of human life: Hom. 8, on
fraternal charity and forgiving injuries: Hom. 20, on our obligation of
offering to God a living sacrifice of our bodies by the exercise of all
virtues, and the sanctity of our affections: Hom. 22 and 27, on patience
in bearing all injuries, by which we convert them into our greatest
treasure: Hom. 5, on the fear of God's judgments, and on his love, to
which he pathetically says, it would be more grievous to offend God than
to suffer all the torments of hell, which every one incurs who is not in
this disposition, (p. 469,) though it is a well-known maxim that persons
ought not to propose to themselves in too lively a manner such
comparisons, or to become their own tempters: Hom. 7, against envy, and
on alms, he says this is putting out money at interest for one hundred
fold from God, who is himself our security, and who herein considers not
the sum, but the will, as he did in St. Peter, who left for him only a
broken net, a line, and a hook. The promise of a hundred fold made to
him, is no less made to us.
The commentary On the First Epistle to the Corinthians, (t. 10,) in
forty-four homilies, was likewise the fruit of his zeal at Antioch, and
is one of the most elaborate and finished of his works. The interpreter
seems animated with the spirit of the great apostle whose sacred oracle
he expounds, so admirably does he penetrate the pious energy of the
least tittle. If St. Paul uses the words _My God_, he observes, that out
of the vehement ardor and tenderness of his love he makes Him his own,
who is the common God of all men; and that he names Him with a sentiment
of burning affection and profound adoration, because he had banished all
created things from his heart, and all his affections were placed in
God. He extols the merit and advantages of holy virginity, (Hom. 19,)
and Hom. 26, speaks on the duties of a married state, especially that of