Doctor of the Church and Patron Saint of Librarians
Today we celebrate the feast of Saint Jerome. Doctor of the Church and Patron Saint of Librarians.
Saint Jerome was born in Strido, Dalmatia (Croatia) in 347. After being educated by his father, he was sent to Rome where he studied classical literature and rhetoric.
While in Rome, he eagerly studied Greek, Latin, history and philosophy and built his own library diligently copying most of the works he read. Being versatile, he also enjoyed others in games and spectacles. Leaving Rome is his early twenties he traveled to Trier in Gaul and transcribed the works of St. Hilary. After returning to Aquileia, he continued his theological studies. About 373, he made a pilgrimage to the east, arranging to take in cities in Asia Minor. Reaching Antioch in Syria, he arranged to stay for several months. There he pursued humanistic and monastic studies, although he soon turned from the classics to Christian writings. Then he moved to the desert of Chalcia, southeast of Antioch, living as a hermit for five years. Now he included his much-loved study of Scripture and copy work.
As a young man, Jerome did not easily forget the delights of Rome and found himself homesick for a world of thought, study and discussion. However, he had a deep spiritual experience in a dream and was accused of being a “Ciceronian, not a Christian”. He then decided to study Hebrew to overcome this temptation. He translated Scripture directly from Hebrew and organized a workshop dedicating himself to the Bible and Theology; however, this dedication was not always kept.
Since his solitude was disrupted by quarreling monks, he returned to Antioch in 378 where he heard Apollinaris the Younger speak. This experience influenced him to become a priest, but he remained free of a diocese. He returned to Rome and studied under Gregory Nazianzus in Turkey.
By 382 he returned to Rome and Pope Damasus appointed him as secretary and librarian. He was also commissioned to render the Bible into Latin. This elegant writing and asceticism, together with friends, promised great things. He was spoken of as the next Pope; however, his satirical attacks on the manners of the Roman clergy caused him to make enemies.
Since he enjoyed the patronage of Damasus, little could be done against him. The death of Damasus enabled an investigation and he was banished from Rome. Then in 385, he left Osta for Antioch. A few months later a number of virgins and widows traveled to Antioch where they met Jerome. The party settled in Bethlehem where a monastery and convent were established. This was the beginning of his literary period and where he remained until his death.
It was in Bethlehem that he began his productive literary period, both his Biblical commentaries and his work on the Latin Bible. In addition to this work, he helped establish monasteries. The needy were not neglected and his work on Scripture continued. Jerome translated most of the Old Testament from Hebrew and some from Greek. Also, he wrote Scriptural commentaries, biographies, a history of writers and corresponded greatly. He also preached, held conferences, and taught the young.
His greatest achievement was, of course, the translation of the Bible, still used by the Catholic Church, and setting the standard for the King James Version 1,200 years later. With the influx of barbarism, his world became dangerous. Rome was sacked; Huns and Pagans invaded and destroyed houses of learning.
In addition to his Biblical work, he wrote extensively on varied topics, translations, heresies and commentary including all the prophets, books of the Bible and polemical treatises. He continued to live in Bethlehem for thirty-six years and was involved in quarrels over doctrine, disputed with St. Augustine, the heretic Jovinian, the Bishop of Jerusalem and with Rufinus over the writing of Origen. A difficult and hot-tempered man, he made enemies, but his correspondence with both friends and enemies is of interest, particularly with Augustine. Also, his scholarship is unsurpassed in the Church, helping to create the culture of the middle ages by developing allegorical and realistic schools of writing.
Jerome died in 419, and was buried under the Church of the Nativity close to the site of the birth of Jesus. Now his relics rest in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome.
Today let’s remember St. Jerome, and as he did, learn how to use our talents for the glory of our Lord.
Heaven is our goal.
Sources: History of St. Jerome – ST. JEROME CATHOLIC CHURCH (stjeromeonline.org)