St. Jerome

By Mary Jane Chaignot

St. Jerome was one of the most important scholars and authors in early Christian.

Introduction

Jerome was born Eusebius Hieronymus Sophronius in a town called Stridon in the Roman province of Dalmatia. Scholars aren't certain where Stridon actually was, perhaps in modern day Croatia or Slovenian.
Jerome was known as Hieronymus Stridonensis, then later as St. Jerome of Stridonius.
Jerome studied in Rome and, supposedly, had a riotous time. However, he managed to learn Greek and Latin.
At the age of 20, he changed his ways and was baptized. Apparently, he regretted his earlier actions in Rome for the duration of his life.
To assuage his conscience, he often visited the catacombs lined with the bodies of the dead to remind him of the terrors of hell.

Jerome's actions over the few years after his conversion are uncertain.
Some say he traveled around, became very ill, and had a vision in which he decided to become a monk and dedicate himself totally to God.
However, others say he returned home and spent the next two years taking care of his younger brother and sisters after both of his parents passed on.
About 374, Jerome moved to the desert southeast of Antioch where he lived an ascetic life and did nothing but study the Scriptures.
During this time, he also learned Hebrew and Chaldean.
Jerome also began corresponding with a variety of people, asking questions about deep theological issues. Many of these letters have survived.

Jerome was ordained in 378 (or perhaps 379) on condition that he maintained his ascetic life. (Apparently, his previous reputation had preceded him.)
From there he went to Constantinople, where he studied Scripture under Archbishop Gregory Nazianaen.
In 381 he returned to Rome and became secretary to Pope Damasus I (ca 366-384).
In the Pope's service, Jerome came into contact with many well-educated women of high society.
- Through his influence, many of these women were drawn to the monastic life, bringing much opposition from these noble families.
Jerome's influence on the well-educate women and his unrelenting criticism of the morals of contemporary Christian society, resulted in him being forced to leave Rome after being accused of having "an improper relationship" with a widow named Paula.
After three years in Rome, he left for good.

After leaving Rome, Jerome went to the Holy Land in 386 and lived in a cave at Bethlehem near where Christ was purportedly born.
In Bethlehem, Jerome lived as an austere ascetic.
He had several students, both men and women (including Paula), and served as their spiritual leader and guide.
This was a time of very creative activity. Paula was able to provide the financial resources that allowed him to do much of his research and writing.
During this time, Jerome wrote volumes, many of which are still available.
These included commentaries, historical works, diatribes, and ascetic pieces.

The most important of Jerome's works was the Vulgate.
Before Jerome, Latin translations of the Bible were based solely on the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures.
Jerome used the Hebrew text to translate the Hebrew Scriptures. This resulted in many discrepancies between Jerome's translations and the Septuagint.
Most scholars in Jerome's time were vocal in their opposition to his translation, as they believed the Septuagint had been totally inspired.
In recent years, scholars have questioned some of Jerome's work and his fluency of the Hebrew language. Nonetheless, the Vulgate is still an important translation.

Included among his writings was a treatise against his friend, Rufinus, and Origen of Jerusalem. He also wrote against the heresy known as Palagianism.
The Pelagians were so incensed by his critiques that, at one point, they stormed the monastic buildings and set them on fire, killing a deacon.
Jerome was able to escape, and found refuge in a neighboring fortress.
Other scholars claim this attack was the work of Bedouin Arabs. In either case, Jerome's community survived.

Jerome is believed to have died of natural causes around 420.
His feast day is September 30th, the date of his death.
Two hundred years later, his bones were sent to Rome, but their exact location is unknown.
- Apparently, his hand is enshrined in a church in Rome.
- Another cathedral claims to be in possession of his head.
Because Jerome was one of the most prolific writers of the early church, he has been designated as the patron saint of librarians and translators.

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