Saint of the Day for 30 September: St Jerome
The father of the Latin Bible: a journey of faith and culture
Name
St Jerome
Title
Priest and Doctor of the Church
Birth
347, Stridon, Dalmatia
Death
30 September 420, Bethlehem
Recurrence
30 September
Martyrology
2004 edition
Prayer
O glorious Saint Jerome, for that loving zeal which led you to the profound study of the sacred scriptures, conferring on you so much light; for that spirit of sacrifice and mortification, for the practices of piety and the most edifying virtues to make you ever more useful to the Catholic Church; and for all the Divine favours you can dispose of in heaven; be a benevolent protector and obtain for us all the grace to meditate continually on the truth of the faith, never to seek on earth other than to be pleasing to God, and to be ever more ardent in the exercises of penance and good works, to ensure our eternal salvation.
Patron Saint of
Cittanova, Nervesa della Battaglia, Motteggiana, Torre de’ Roveri, Cedegolo, Ortezzano
Protector of
Archaeologists, librarians, scholars, translators
Roman Martyrology
Memory of Saint Jerome, priest and Doctor of the Church: born in Dalmatia, in present-day Croatia, a man of great literary culture, he completed all his studies in Rome and was baptised there; later enraptured by the fascination of a life of contemplation, he embraced the ascetic life and, travelling to the East, was ordained a priest. Returning to Rome, he became secretary to Pope Damasus and, after settling in Bethlehem of Judah, retired to monastic life. He was a distinguished doctor in translating and explaining the Holy Scriptures and was admirably involved in the various needs of the Church. Having finally reached an advanced age, he rested in peace.
The Saint and Mission
St. Jerome, known for his vast erudition and tireless dedication to making the Bible accessible to the people through his Latin translation, the Vulgate, embodies a deeply resonant mission. His life is an emblematic example of how spiritual mission can be integrated with community service, providing a route to divine wisdom through the mediation of the written word. St Jerome’s mission extends far beyond the mere act of translation. It is a profound commitment to the examination and reflection on the Word of God, enriching the understanding of the Christian faith. His translation of the Bible was not merely an act of erudition, but a fundamental service to the Church and its people, an attempt to bring humanity closer to the divine through clarity and precision of language. St. Jerome’s approach to his mission was rooted in a deep understanding of the value of the sacred text as a means to facilitate a dialogue between God and humanity. Through his work, St Jerome sought to facilitate this dialogue by making the Word of God more accessible and understandable. His mission was imbued with a love for truth and a desire to serve the community of faith by providing tools for a deeper understanding of divine revelation. Moreover, St Jerome’s life shows a mission of spiritual accompaniment and theological guidance. His numerous letters and works demonstrate a constant commitment to guiding and supporting others in their spiritual quest. His correspondence with contemporaries shows a mission of theological dialogue and spiritual support, highlighting how the mission can also manifest itself through personal guidance and community interaction. St Jerome’s ability to integrate his erudition with a deep sense of mission and service offers an illuminating perspective on the interconnected nature of the search for truth and service to neighbour. In a world that often separates knowledge from action, St Jerome’s life reminds us that true mission transcends this division, channelling the search for truth into loving and dedicated service to the community.
The Saint and Mercy
St Jerome, known for his keen intelligence and dedication to translating the Bible into Latin (the Vulgate), is a figure who represents a profound dialogue between divine wisdom and human mercy. His life and work shed light on mercy as a path of deep understanding and loving service. Mercy, at the heart of St Jerome’s mission, is manifested not only through his dedication to the word of God, but also in the way he sought to make that word accessible to people. By translating the Bible into a more accessible language, St Jerome played a key role in facilitating a deeper encounter between God and humanity. His work was an act of mercy that sought to bridge the gap between the divine and the human, allowing people to access the wisdom and consolation offered by the Scriptures. In his approach to monastic life and scholarship, St Jerome shows how mercy can be explored and lived through a life of contemplation and service. His legacy suggests a mercy that goes beyond superficiality, inviting deep reflection and understanding. His dedication to study and prayer was an expression of a desire to immerse himself in the mystery of God’s mercy, seeking to bring that mercy to the world through the sharing of knowledge. The figure of St Jerome also recalls the importance of dialogue and collaboration. Although he was known for his fiery temperament, his interaction with his contemporaries and his commitment to the spiritual formation of the laity shows a form of mercy that extends through community and mutual accompaniment in the spiritual journey. St. Jerome’s life reflects a mercy that is not passive, but translates into concrete actions of service, teaching and accompaniment. He invites a form of mercy that seeks a deep understanding of the human condition, and is actively committed to bringing comfort and hope through sharing the Word of God. His example invokes a mercy that is in its own way erudite, reflective and deeply engaged in the fabric of human and divine experience.
Hagiography
He is the saint who put all his vast erudition at the service of Holy Scripture. He was born in 347 in Stridon in Dalmatia, to a patrician and Christian family. A young man of restless nature, he came to Rome to deepen his studies, for which he felt an innate attraction. Although a practising Catholic, he allowed himself to be seduced by the study of pagan classics, for which he had great veneration. A lover of culture, he was in the…