Patrologia Latina
The Patrologia Latina (often abbreviated PL) is a monumental 217‑volume collection of Latin Christian writings compiled and published by the French scholar Jacques‑Paul Migne between 1844 and 1855. It contains the works of the Latin Church Fathers from the earliest centuries of Christianity through the Middle Ages, including theology, biblical commentaries, letters, homilies, historical works, and doctrinal treatises.
Overview
The Patrologia Latina was created to provide scholars, clergy, and students with a comprehensive and accessible edition of the major Latin Christian authors. Migne’s goal was to gather the entire literary heritage of Western Christianity into a single, affordable series. The collection quickly became the standard reference edition for patristic studies.
Contents
The series includes the writings of:
- Tertullian
- Cyprian
- Hilary of Poitiers
- Ambrose
- Jerome
- Augustine
- Gregory the Great
- Numerous medieval theologians, historians, and commentators
Each volume contains Latin texts, editorial notes, and marginal references. Although later critical editions exist, the Patrologia Latina remains widely used due to its completeness and public‑domain status.
Volume 25: Jerome’s Commentary on Daniel
Volume 25 (PL 25) contains the works of Jerome, including his influential Commentariorum in Danielem (Commentary on Daniel). This commentary is one of the earliest and most important patristic interpretations of the Book of Daniel and is frequently cited in biblical scholarship.
Significance
The Patrologia Latina is significant because:
- It preserves the foundational literature of Western Christianity
- It provides a unified reference system used in academic citations
- It remains accessible due to its public‑domain status
- It is still cited in modern theological, historical, and biblical studies
Despite the existence of newer critical editions (such as the Corpus Christianorum Series Latina), the PL continues to serve as a standard scholarly reference.