Apostleship of Prayer - Saints
September 30 - Jerome
Jerome was born in 342 in Dalmatia. He is often remembered for his extremely bad temper and his sharp tongue. Also he was a vitriolic writer. He studied Latin and Greek in Rome. Pope Liberius baptized him when he was eighteen years old. After a mystical experience, he retired into the Syrian desert for four years where he studied and mastered the Hebrew language. Pope Damasus requested him to translate the Bible into the language of the people, which was Latin. This translation was declared the Vulgate. He was primarily a Scripture scholar. This edition served the Church until after the Council of Trent, Robert Belarmine was called upon to revise Jerome's work and now this became the Vulgate.
His fiery temperament coupled with his heavy sarcastic tongue made him a formidable opponent in a debate. Nevertheless his love of God and of his Son, Jesus, was extraordinarily intense. Anyone who attacked God or His Son was immediately attacked savagely. He had the virtues and the unpleasant fruits of being fearless in these debates. He did not possess the virtue of moderation in his combats with heretics or with other Christians who did not agree with him.
Jerome died in Bethlehem in Judea in 420, where he had spent the last years of his life. He is a Doctor of the Church.
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