St. Jerome

Jerome gave his learning, his penance, and the full force of his character to the word of God. Born in Dalmatia and educated in Rome, he mastered the literature of the ancient world before turning his gifts toward sacred Scripture. Years of prayer and struggle in the desert deepened that conversion.

In Rome, Jerome served Pope Damasus and began the work of correcting the Latin biblical text. He later settled in Bethlehem, where he studied Hebrew, translated and commented on Scripture, guided monastic communities, and helped refugees driven from their homes. His work became a foundation of the Latin Bible known as the Vulgate and shaped the Western Church for centuries.

Jerome's temper was sharp, and his controversies could become painfully personal. He also recognized those faults, practiced penance, and never stopped placing himself under the judgment of God. His holiness did not consist in an easy temperament. It appeared in a life consumed by Scripture, prayer, labor, charity, and the search for truth.