St Gall Stiftsbibliothek 673, fol. 144 |
There are, he said, two laws, one
public, the other private. The public law is that which is established in
writing by the holy fathers, as is canon law.
Private law is that which is written in your heart by the inspiration
of the Holy Spirit. If anyone who holds his own property under his bishop is inspired by
the Holy Spirit wishes to seek his salvation in a monastery, because he is
led by private law he is not held public law.
For private law is more worthy than
public law. Whoever, therefore, is led by this law will be free, even if his
bishop had forbidden <his entering a monastery>.
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