Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus was born around 342, in Stridon, Dalmatia, to Catholic parents. His education began at home with a famous Roman grammarian.

Despite his parents best efforts, he still behaved as he chose. At the age of 12, he traveled to Rome to study grammar, philosophy, and rhetoric. By his own admission, he quickly forgot his morals, and pursued pleasure and women instead of studying.

He quickly felt regret afterwards and to alleviate the feelings of guilt, he would visit the crypts in Rome, and imagined himself in hell. He did so every Sunday, even though he was not a Christian.

Bonosus, his Catholic friend, was a strong influence, and persuaded him to become Christian and change his ways.

He was baptized by Pope Liberius, and became interested in Theology. Him and Bonosus traveled to Treveris in Gaul for additional schooling and became interested in monasticism.

At the age of 28, he traveled closer to home and joined the monastery at Aquileia where he met Rufinus who was renowned for his translations. Jerome also developed his skills as a translator in kind.

He traveled East and began to translate books for his own use and personal library. He returned to the monastery but had a falling out with his companions and traveled to Antioch.

Him and his new friends became ill with a contagious disease and several lost their lives. He went into the desert for 4 years, living as a hermit but upon his return, he was embroiled in conflicts within the Church at Antioch, which he did not want to be associated with.

Clergy and the Pope wanted him to be ordained although he refused. He relented on the condition he could still pursue a monastic life which they granted.

He traveled to Constantinople to study and then onto Rome for a council of the Church. He was kept in Rome as the Pope’s secretary and used his position to promote the ideal of asceticism.

The Pope had shielded Jerome but when he died, Jerome became exposed to criticism and controversy. He was sarcastic and of great wit which made a number of enemies. He was swift to anger but also quick to feel remorse, becoming severe on his own shortcomings than on those of others.

He escaped by heading to the Holy Land, arriving back in Antioch in 386, with his followers arriving shortly. They traveled and had a monastery built in Bethlehem. He wrote extensively, defending the virginity of Mary, and engaged in debates against various heresies.

His most famous work was the translation of the Bible which came to be called the Vulgate.

In 410, Rome was sacked which distressed him greatly and the violence found its way to Bethlehem disrupting his work.

He died peacefully on September 30, 420.

The Council of Trent called for a new and corrected edition of the Vulgate, and declared it the authentic text to be used in the Catholic Church. He was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1295.

He is the patron saint of archaeologists, Biblical scholars, librarians, students, and translators.

His feast day is September 30.

For God’s Glory.