What then do you say, O sons of the saints? Jealousy & envy prove you are degenerate, & no less, ambition proves you are illegitimate sons. You bite & devour one another* & your conflicts & strifes arise only from your concupiscences. Your wrestling is against the hosts of darkness, your battle is against the armies of devils, & you turn the points of your swords against each other; your fathers, filled with wisdom & their face being turned toward the propitiatory*, looked familiarly upon one another, while their sons, filled with envy, are grievous to behold*. What will the body accomplish, if it has a divided heart? Certainly, the teaching of piety would progress more fruitfully throughout the world, if the bond of charity joined the ministers of the word of God together more firmly. For what we speak or what we teach is rendered greatly suspect, because a certain leaven of hatred is made manifest in us today by evident signs. I know that the good on either side are not at fault, but the bad, who, I think, should be rooted out lest they infect the holy. What then shall I say to those who set their minds on high things? The fathers came to the kingdom by way of humility, not by the way of loftiness; the sons, walking about in the circle of their ambition, do not ask the way of the city for their habitation*. What is left, that we who do not follow their way should not attain glory? Far be it from us, Lord! Make the disciples humble under the wings of their humble master; make kindred spirits kind; & mayst thou see thy children's children, peace upon Israel*.
*Gal. 5, 15
*Exod 25, 20
*Wis. 2, 15
*Ps 106, 4
*Ps 127, 6
This was written around 1220 by Thomas of Celano. Now juxtapose around 2012.