Memorial of Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church
Saint Jerome was born at Stridon in Dalmatia around the year c. 340 – c. 347. He studied the classical authors at Rome and was baptized there. He embraced a life of asceticism and went to the East where he was ordained a priest. Returning to Rome, became a secretary to Pope Damasus. In Rome he began to translate the holy scriptures into Latin and to promote monastic life. Traditionally regarded as the most learned of the Latin Fathers. Eventually he settled in Bethlehem where he served the needs of the church. He wrote many works, especially commentaries on holy Scripture. His numerous biblical, ascetical, monastic, and theological works profoundly influenced the early Middle Ages. He is known particularly for his Latin translation of the Bible, the Vulgate, and is considered a doctor of the church. He died inBethlehem in 420.
A passionate biblical scholar
God's grace makes saints of any material. He transforms a fiery egocentric into a hermit, an ironic speaker into a patient interpreter.
He used to say that "the only human perfection is the awareness of one's own imperfection." And he knew what he was saying. He was very excitable by nature. Toward others - aggressive and violent, harsh, ironic and offensive. Toward himself - sensitive to praise, sensitive to blame, jealous and vengeful. In the face of friends and enemies, he has repeatedly violated justice and love. And yet… he became a saint. Which for us sinners is - let us admit - comforting. Together with Saints Augustine, Ambrose and Gregory the Great, he belongs to the group of great doctors of the Western Church.
All his life, Jerome was torn by conflicting desires. He received classical education in Rome. His teacher Donatus introduced him to the world of Latin classics Cicero and Virgil. He mastered the art of verbal polemics, which he often used ruthlessly. He was baptized in Rome. He began his career as an official at the emperor's court in Trier. However, he soon abandoned court life. For two years he lived in a hermitage in the Middle East, near Aleppo, Syria. There, he painstakingly learned the Hebrew language. He was ordained a priest. He was tormented by a dream: Summoned before the tribunal of Christ, accused of being more Ciceronian than Christian. He returnedto Rome. The former hermit made a quick ecclesiastical career. He became Pope Damasus closest associate. He became the spiritual leader of a group of wealthy Roman women, which brought up a lot of rumors. He himself engaged in sharp, satirical polemics with the clergy. He expected to become Damasus successor. But someone else became the pope. The atmosphere around Jerome became so uncomfortable that he hadto leave the Eternal City. After numerous adventures, he reached Bethlehem, where he remained until the end of his life. He lived an ascetic life, translated and commented on the Bible. But even there, mainly because of his bad mouth, difficulties did not pass him by. For a moment he was even threatened with excommunication. He is sometimes depicted with a stone struck in his chest.
The Bible became the love of his life, to which, ultimately devoted his talent, education, and energy. The Word of God saved him from many catastrophes in life, which he was many times close to. The most important fruit of his life is the translation of the Bible into Latin. He translated some books from the original, some he only corrected. His translation, the so-called The Vulgate (Latin: widespread, common) became the official text of the Western Church for several centuries.
St. Jerome is recognized as one of the most outstanding scholars of the church. He was honored immediately after his death. The main center of veneration was the grotto in Bethlehem (the basement of St. Catherine's Church), which was adjacent to the Grotto of the Nativity of Jesus. He was awarded the title of Doctor of the Church in the 8th century (he was one of the four Doctors). However, he was only beatified by Pope Benedict XIV in 1747, and canonized by Pope Clement XIII in 1767.
The paths leading to holiness are strange. God's grace makes saints of any material. He transforms a fiery egocentric into a hermit, an ironic speaker into a patient interpreter.
Saint Jerome pray for us.
Until Tomorrow
fr. george