Jerome's "Blazing Body"

OK, where do I start....the Miller article was quite eye opening into just how sexual Jerome's Letter 22 really is.  I find the entire premise of trying to transform the body of Eustochium through writing very interesting and I particularly enjoyed the little bit about Jerome's failed attempt to do this same for himself.  I like that he instead moves onto speaking of dreams and memory, which we all know was so prevalent in late Latin literature. I found it most interesting (and amusing) that in trying to remove and advise against base human sexual desire, Jerome actually makes it all the more desirous both to himself and likely to others. But he was doomed from the very beginning, because, although he mentions that once something is obtained or possessed, the desire is gone, but I must disagree with that conclusion.  In fact, I submit that once you have experienced something really amazing, you want more and more of it, kind of a "you don't know what you are missing until you try it," which naturally would then make you want more.  So you are a bit damned if you do and damned if you don't, because apparently simply thinking about something sinful is a sin itself, which just takes the fun out of everything!  I think Jerome should have considered the idea of moderation, it may have things easier for him (but probably not less sinful ;) ).

I also want to make a quick note about something that actually strikes me every time I read anything Christian in nature.  Jerome makes mention a number of times about the fact that Eustochium is the bride of God.  Bride naturally implies marriage and the natural occurrences after which, things that are not in association with virginity.  But Eustochium lives in a paradise of virginity, thus never being able to enjoy the perks of marriage with her would-be husband, God, thus making the entire premise something that when dwelt upon (as I am sure happened with the spare time they had) further added to the frustration of desire that Jerome attempts to get to the bottom to.  I just find the word choices and metaphors that were employed to be something that maybe should have been thought through a bit more, maybe making the whole desire things less desirable........maybe!