Saint Jerome, a Doctor of the Church, is renowned for his monumental translation of the Bible into Latin, known as the Vulgate, which became the standard biblical text for centuries.
Saint Jerome, born around 347 AD, dedicated his life to scholarship, asceticism, and the study of scripture, becoming one of the most learned figures of early Christianity. His most significant contribution was the translation of the entire Bible from its original Hebrew and Greek texts into Latin, a work known as the Vulgate, which served as the official Latin version of the Bible for the Church for over a millennium and greatly influenced Western theology and culture. Beyond his translation efforts, Jerome was a prolific writer, commentator, and theologian, known for his rigorous scholarship, fierce polemics against heresies, and his unwavering commitment to monastic ideals, making him a pivotal figure in the development of biblical studies and a Doctor of the Church.
Saint Jerome, born Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus around 347 AD in Stridon, a town on the border of Dalmatia and Pannonia, was destined to become one of the most influential scholars and ascetics in the history of the Church. From a relatively affluent Christian family, he received a superb classical education in Rome, studying grammar, rhetoric, and philosophy under the renowned pagan grammarian Aelius Donatus. His early life was marked by intellectual pursuits and a somewhat worldly lifestyle, but he eventually underwent a profound conversion, being baptized around 360-366 AD. This period laid the foundation for his formidable intellect and his deep appreciation for classical literature, which he would later wrestle with in his attempts to reconcile it with Christian spirituality. His passion for learning, combined with a growing desire for a more rigorous spiritual life, set the stage for his unique contributions to Christianity.
Following his studies in Rome, Jerome traveled extensively, visiting Trier and Aquileia, where he associated with a circle of devout Christian scholars. It was during this time that he began to embrace a more ascetic way of life, an inclination that would lead him to the Syrian desert near Antioch around 375 AD. Here, he lived as a hermit, enduring severe spiritual trials and physical hardships. Crucially, it was in the desert that he began to seriously study Hebrew, guided by a Jewish convert. This arduous undertaking, driven by a conviction that a deeper understanding of the Scriptures required a grasp of their original languages, proved to be a pivotal moment in his intellectual and spiritual development. His time in the desert not only deepened his prayer life but also forged his formidable linguistic skills, preparing him for the monumental task that awaited him.
Upon his return from the desert, Jerome was ordained a priest, though he never actively exercised priestly functions beyond celebrating Mass. In 382 AD, he returned to Rome, where his exceptional erudition and ascetic reputation caught the attention of Pope Damasus I. The Pope appointed Jerome as his secretary and, recognizing his unparalleled linguistic abilities, commissioned him to undertake a standardized revision of the existing Latin translations of the Gospels, which were marred by numerous errors and variations. This initial task quickly expanded into the ambitious project of translating the entire Bible from its original Hebrew and Greek texts into a new, consistent Latin version. This work, known as the Vulgate, or “common version,” would become the definitive Latin Bible for the Western Church for over a thousand years, profoundly shaping its theology, liturgy, and art.
During his time in Rome, Jerome also served as a spiritual director to a group of aristocratic Roman women, including Paula and her daughter Eustochium, who shared his commitment to asceticism and biblical study. His outspoken criticisms of the laxity of the Roman clergy and society, combined with his sometimes fiery temperament and blunt polemics, earned him many enemies. After the death of Pope Damasus in 384 AD, Jerome found his position in Rome untenable amidst growing opposition and accusations. Driven by a desire for a more secluded and scholarly life dedicated to the Scriptures, he left Rome permanently in 385 AD, accompanied by Paula and Eustochium, and embarked on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
Settling in Bethlehem in 386 AD, Jerome established a monastery for men and, with Paula's patronage, a convent for women. From his cell in Bethlehem, he dedicated the remaining 34 years of his life to his colossal biblical work. He meticulously translated the Old Testament directly from the Hebrew, a groundbreaking endeavor at the time, and continued to refine his New Testament translation. Beyond the Vulgate, he produced extensive commentaries on nearly every book of the Bible, drawing upon his deep knowledge of Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, as well as his familiarity with Jewish exegetical traditions. He also engaged in vigorous theological debates, writing numerous treatises against various heresies, such as Pelagianism and Origenism, and maintaining a vast correspondence that offers invaluable insights into the Church of his era. His steadfast belief that “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ” fueled his relentless pursuit of biblical truth and accuracy.
Saint Jerome passed away in Bethlehem on September 30, 420 AD. His legacy is immense and multifaceted. As the primary translator of the Vulgate, he provided the Latin-speaking Church with a single, authoritative biblical text that profoundly influenced Western Christianity, scholarship, and culture for centuries. His rigorous scholarship, his insistence on consulting the original Hebrew and Greek texts, and his prolific writings earned him the title of Doctor of the Church, one of only four original Latin Doctors alongside Ambrose, Augustine, and Gregory the Great. He is revered as the patron saint of translators, librarians, and scholars, and his life serves as an enduring testament to the power of intellectual discipline, ascetic devotion, and an unyielding commitment to the Word of God. His feast day is celebrated annually on September 30, commemorating his death and celebrating his monumental contributions to the Church.
In the desolate quietude of his Bethlehem monastery, where Saint Jerome dedicated his life to the sacred scriptures, a most unusual visitor once appeared. It was late afternoon, and the monks were gathered, perhaps at prayer or engaged in their scholarly pursuits, when a terrifying roar echoed through the courtyard. All eyes turned to the monastery gate, where a magnificent lion stood, limping and in obvious distress. Panic erupted among the brothers; some fled, others prepared to defend themselves, convinced their end was nigh.
But Jerome, ever the man of profound faith and keen observation, did not yield to fear. He looked upon the beast not with dread, but with a discerning eye, noticing its pained limp and the gentle, almost pleading, look in its eyes. With a calm that belied the roaring presence before him, he stepped forward, beckoning the trembling monks to stand down. As he approached the fearsome creature, the lion, instead of attacking, whimpered softly, extending its wounded paw towards the saint.
Jerome, kneeling fearlessly, took the massive paw into his hands. There, deeply embedded, was a large thorn, the source of the lion's agony. With the same meticulous care he applied to his biblical manuscripts, Jerome carefully extracted the thorn. As the pain subsided, the magnificent beast let out a purr, a rumble of gratitude, and rubbed its head affectionately against the saint's habit. From that day forward, the lion remained at the monastery, becoming Jerome's devoted companion, guarding the donkey that carried wood, and even helping to retrieve it when it was stolen. This remarkable companionship, a testament to Jerome's compassion and the peace that radiates from a soul dedicated to God, became a cherished part of his legend, illustrating how even the wildest of natures can be tamed by love and grace, much like the untamed scriptures he wrestled with daily.
Circa 405 AD
Brother Jerome to Paula and Eustochium.
Since, my dearest Paula and Eustochium, the more I write to you, the more I feel myself bound by the laws of charity, and as, in the words of the orator, ‘I am not so much admonished by duty as led by pleasure,’ I must explain to you the order of the books of divine scripture as they are arranged in the Hebrew original. In this way, you will be able to understand what I have done in the new edition, and how I have restored them to the knowledge of the Hebrews.
The first book is called Genesis, which is called Beresith by the Hebrews, from the beginning of the book. The second, Exodus, called by them Semoth, that is, 'names.' The third, Leviticus, called Vajekra, 'and he called.' The fourth, Numbers, called Vajedabber, 'and he spake.' The fifth, Deuteronomy, called Ellehadebarim, 'these are the words.' These are the five books of Moses, which they properly call the Thorath, that is, the Law.
Then follows the book of Joshua the son of Nun, called by them Josue. Then the book of Judges, called Sophetim. Then, coming after, Ruth, which they count as one book with Judges. After these, Samuel, which they call Shemuel, and which they divide into two books, the First and Second of Kings. Then Kings, which they call Melachim, and which they divide into two books, the Third and Fourth of Kings. And that which among us is called the First and Second of Paralipomenon, they call Dibredabamim, that is, the words of days. Then Esdras, which they also divide into two books. Then the book of Psalms, called Thehillim. Then the book of Job, called Job. Then the Proverbs of Solomon, called Misle. Then Ecclesiastes, called Koheleth. Then the Song of Songs, called Sirassirim. These three books, that is, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Songs, they call by a special name, Salomon.
Then follow Isaiah, called Isaias. Then Jeremiah, called Jermia. Then Ezekiel, called Ezechiel. Then the twelve prophets, which they call Thareas, and which they count as one book. These are Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi. These are the Prophets.
After this, the third order of books, which is called Kethubim, that is, Hagiographa. The first of these is Job, then Psalms, then Proverbs, then Ecclesiastes, then Song of Songs, then Daniel, then Paralipomenon, then Esdras, then Esther. These are the twenty-two books, according to the number of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet. For as they have twenty-two elements, by which they write what they say, and by which they count the revolutions of time, so they reckon twenty-two volumes, by which the tender infancy of their righteous man is instructed, and he, as it were, sucks the milk of wisdom.
Some indeed add Ruth and Lamentations, and count them among the Hagiographa, and thus make twenty-four books. But these are not received into the canon of the divine scriptures. This prologue of mine is a preface to all the books that I have translated from Hebrew into Latin, that is, the five books of Moses, the book of Joshua, the book of Judges, the book of Samuel, the book of Kings, the book of Isaiah, the book of Jeremiah, the book of Ezekiel, the twelve prophets, the book of Job, the book of Psalms, the Proverbs of Solomon, Ecclesiastes, the Song of Songs, Daniel, Paralipomenon, Esdras, Esther. And I have not included the book of Baruch, nor the book of Judith, nor the book of Tobit, because these books are not in the Hebrew canon.
I say this to show you that what I have done in the new edition is not without reason, but according to the authority of the Hebrews. And if anyone should think that I have erred in this, let him not impute it to me, but to the Hebrews, who have delivered these books to us in this order. For I have not presumed to add or to take away anything from the divine scriptures, but have faithfully translated what I have found in the Hebrew original. For it is better to be ignorant of some things than to know them falsely. And if anyone should object that the Septuagint translation is more authoritative, let him know that I do not condemn it, but only say that it is not the original. For it is one thing to translate from the original, and another to correct a translation. And if anyone should think that I have erred in this, let him not impute it to me, but to the Hebrews, who have delivered these books to us in this order. For I have not presumed to add or to take away anything from the divine scriptures, but have faithfully translated what I have found in the Hebrew original. For it is better to be ignorant of some things than to know them falsely. And if anyone should object that the Septuagint translation is more authoritative, let him know that I do not condemn it, but only say that it is not the original. For it is one thing to translate from the original, and another to correct a translation.
November 7, 2007
Dear brothers and sisters,
We continue our journey through the history of the Church, and today we meet a truly extraordinary figure: Saint Jerome. As we saw last time, Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus, as he was called, was born in about 347 in Stridon, a town on the borders of Dalmatia and Pannonia. He received a good education, was baptized in Rome in about 360-366 and then set out on a journey to the East. He stayed for a long time in the desert of Chalcis, where he devoted himself to asceticism and the study of Greek and Hebrew. He was ordained a priest in Antioch in 379 and spent a few months in Constantinople with Gregory Nazianzen. In 382 he returned to Rome and became a close collaborator of Pope Damasus I, who entrusted him with the revision of the Latin translation of the Gospels. It was during this period that he began his most famous work, the translation of the entire Bible from the original texts into Latin, the Vulgate.
After the death of Pope Damasus, Jerome left Rome in 385 and went to the Holy Land, settling in Bethlehem in 386. Here, with the help of the noble Paula, he founded a monastery for men and a convent for women, and dedicated the rest of his life to study, prayer, and writing. He died in Bethlehem in 420. His feast day is celebrated on September 30.
Jerome was a tireless scholar, a passionate polemicist, and a spiritual guide. He had a profound knowledge of classical literature and a burning desire for God. He was very sensitive to the needs of the poor and the marginalized, and he defended the dignity of women. He was also a man of strong character, sometimes irascible and impatient, but always sincere and deeply devoted to the Church.
His greatest contribution was undoubtedly the Vulgate, his translation of the Bible into Latin. At that time, there were many different Latin translations, and they were often inaccurate. Jerome, with his exceptional linguistic skills, decided to go back to the original texts: the Hebrew for the Old Testament and the Greek for the New Testament. This was a revolutionary undertaking, and it met with some resistance, especially from those who were attached to the older Latin versions. But Jerome persevered, convinced that it was essential to provide the Church with an accurate and reliable translation of the Word of God. The Vulgate became the official Bible of the Latin Church for more than a thousand years, and it continues to be a fundamental text for biblical studies today.
But Jerome was not only a translator. He was also a brilliant exegete, a commentator on almost every book of the Bible. He applied his vast knowledge of languages and ancient cultures to interpret the sacred texts, always seeking to discover their literal and spiritual meaning. He also wrote numerous theological treatises, defending the faith against heresies, such as Pelagianism, which denied the necessity of divine grace, and Origenism, which contained some problematic doctrines. He was a fierce defender of orthodoxy, and his polemics were often sharp and uncompromising.
Jerome was also a spiritual father and a guide for many people, especially for women who sought to live a life of asceticism and prayer. He encouraged them to study the Scriptures, to practice virtue, and to dedicate themselves to charitable works. His letters to these women, such as Paula and Eustochium, are precious testimonies to his spiritual wisdom and his profound understanding of the human heart.
One of Jerome's most famous sayings is: "Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ." This phrase perfectly summarizes his conviction that a deep knowledge of the Bible is essential for every Christian. For him, the Scriptures were not just a collection of ancient texts, but the living Word of God, a source of truth, wisdom, and spiritual nourishment. He believed that by studying the Bible, we come to know Christ, who is the Word incarnate. This is why he dedicated his entire life to making the Scriptures accessible to everyone, translating them into the common language of his time and explaining them in his commentaries.
Jerome's life was not without difficulties and controversies. His strong personality and his uncompromising defense of the truth often led him into conflicts with others. But he never lost his faith or his commitment to the Church. He was a man of profound humility, who recognized his own weaknesses and sought to overcome them through prayer and penance. He was also a man of immense courage, who dared to challenge established traditions and to undertake monumental tasks for the good of the Church.
In conclusion, Saint Jerome is a model for us today. He teaches us the importance of loving and studying the Word of God, of dedicating ourselves to prayer and asceticism, and of serving the Church with courage and fidelity. He reminds us that true wisdom comes from a humble and open heart, ready to receive the truth of Christ, who reveals himself in the Scriptures. May his example inspire us to deepen our own relationship with the Bible, so that we may truly know Christ and follow him more closely.
Observance of International Translation Day on September 30th.
Saint Jerome is widely regarded as the patron saint of translators due to his monumental work in translating the Bible into Latin (the Vulgate). His feast day was chosen by the International Federation of Translators (FIT) in 1953 to celebrate the translation profession, and the United Nations later officially recognized September 30th as International Translation Day in 2017.
Emphasis on the study and reading of Sacred Scripture among the faithful.
Saint Jerome's entire life was dedicated to the rigorous study, translation, and interpretation of the Bible. His famous dictum, 'Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ,' underscores his belief in the centrality of biblical knowledge for Christian life, and his feast day serves as a reminder to deepen one's engagement with the Word of God.