Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church
Feast day: Sept. 30
A Biblical translator who was also a priest, St. Jerome was born Eusebius Hieronymus Sophronius in approximately 340 in what is today northern Italy. A very prolific writer, he is best known for his translation of the Bible, the Vulgate, from its original languages into Latin as commissioned by Pope Damasus I. A man who lived for awhile as a hermit and died as a monastic leader, St. Jerome was also an apologist who authored theological polemics and historical works. He is particularly known for his letters and his defense of the perpetual virginity of the Blessed Mother. Infamous for having a bad temper and a sarcastic wit, St. Jerome can be admired for rejecting pagan ideas and a hedonistic lifestyle acquired during his academic years and instead choosing to return to the pious lifestyle in which his Christian parents had raised him. He has been declared a Doctor of the Church.
A student of Latin, grammar, rhetoric, and philosophy in Rome under some of the best teachers, St. Jerome was baptized there before departing for the region of Antioch. On hearing a reply from the Lord that he was too worldly and not behaving as a Christian, he chose to become a hermit for four years in the Syrian desert. There he studied Syriac, Greek and Hebrew. St. Jerome then returned to Antioch where he was ordained to the priesthood and studied Sacred Scripture. During this time, he also translated the “Ecclesiastical History” by Eusebius into Latin.
Shortly thereafter, St. Jerome accompanied a bishop to the Council of Constantinople and studied Scripture there, too, this time under St. Gregory Nazianzen with whom St. Jerome became friends. He then returned to Rome with the same bishop and became the secretary of Pope Damasus I, who entrusted St. Jerome with the task of translating the Bible into Latin, a task which took 30 years to complete. This enormous undertaking particularly involved revising the psalms, the Gospels and St. Paul’s letters.
While the books of the Canon of Scripture had been selected by this time, there was the problem of too many editions, and the pope wanted one complete book of the Bible in a standard translation. Accessing the original texts in Greek, St. Jerome was able to compare them to several Latin copies. He also translated the Old Testament from Hebrew and used his knowledge not only of linguistics but also of the geography of Palestine. Called the Vulgate, St. Jerome’s work was completed in 405 and was the official Latin text of the Bible until Pope St. John Paul II replaced it with the New Vulgate in 1979.
With the death of Pope Damasus, it became more difficult for St. Jerome to remain in Rome as his argumentative nature against those who attacked the Church made bitter enemies for him. He departed for Bethlehem where he built a monastery over which he presided and set up a hospice for pilgrims. He also taught Latin and Greek in a school and offered spiritual direction, especially to those living in a convent nearby. St. Jerome died in Bethlehem in 420.
Reflection
Dear Jesus, thank you for the many gifts you have given me as they are built up and enhanced throughout my life. May I use them, like St. Jerome, to make your Church stronger while I grow in holiness.
Prayer
O God, who gave the Priest Saint Jerome
a living and tender love for Sacred Scripture,
grant that your people
may be ever more fruitfully nourished by your Word
and find in it the fount of life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
