I have been reading up on some historical figures who had dedicated their lives to Christ and found them interesting. I find St. Jerome interesting, as an example, because of his love and desire to serve Christ. He used his gifts and talents his entire life to spread God's word in his time. He was an encouragement to other Christians, which can be seen by the letters he wrote to them. I wont ever translate the bible or work for the pope, but he inspires me to devote my life to being more Christ like.
Sue Waddell
A glimpse at St. Jerome.....
St. Jerome was born about 345 AD and lived until 420 AD. He was an early Christian biblical scholar who translated the Hebrew and Greek bible into the official Latin Bible of the Roman Catholic Church, called the vulgate. He was born in Stridonius which is in what is now northwest Yugoslavia. He was raised by christian parents and his real name was Eusebius Hieronymous Sophronius.
He studied in Rome and could have gone into law, but he did not pursue it. He traveled to Germany, Italy, Syria (where he studied Hebrew) and Constantinople. For 3 years, starting in 382, Jerome was secretary in Rome to Pope Damasus. When in Rome he took the opportunity to commend the life of ascetic renunciation (renouncing earthly pleasures) particularly among wealthy and aristocratic ladies.
He settled in Bethlehem for the last 34 years of his life where he presided over a monastery and accomplished his translation of the Old Testament from the original Hebrew into Latin. He is recognized by the Roman Catholic Church as a canonized Saint.
St. Jerome wrote many letters which are published in 3 volumes and are said to be one of the best sources of knowledge of the times. Here are parts of two letters which shows what encouragement and instruction he gave to other christians:
Letter XXII To Eustochium:
Hear Jesus saying to the Apostles: "Take no thought what ye shall eat; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on." Let the words be ever on your lips "We brought nothing into this world and we can carry nothing out" Yet today you see many women packing wardrobes with dresses, changing their tunics every day, and even so unable to keep ahead of the moth. The more scrupulous wear one dress until it is threadbare, but yet have their boxes full of clothes. Their parchments are dyed purple, gold is melted for the lettering, their books are decorated with jewels, and Christ lies naked and dying at their door. When they stretch out their hands to give anything, they blow a trumpet. Only lately I saw the greatest lady in Rome-I will not tell her name, for this is not a satire-in the church of the Blessed Peter with her eunuchs in front of her, dispensing money to the poor with her own hands so as to be thought the more pious. To each one she gave a penny, and then, as you might easily know by experience would happen, an old woman full of years and rags, ran forward suddenly to get a second penny, but when her turn came, she got not a penny, but a blow from the lady's fist and for her terrible crime paid with her blood...
.....For our salvation the Son of God became the Son of Man...He held the world in his little hand, but he was contained in a narrow manger. I say nothing of the thirty years He lived obscure and content with his parents poverty. He is scourged and says not a word. He is crucified and prays for his crucifiers...But we are annoyed if our food lacks flavor and imagine we are doing God service when we drink water with our wine..
Letter CVII To Laeta
Let this be said, dear Laeta, most dutiful daughter in Christ so that you may not despair of your father's salvation. I hope that the same faith which has gained you a daughter as its reward may also win your father and that you may rejoice over blessings bestowed upon your whole household knowing God's promise: "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God". It is never too late to be converted. The robber passed from the cross to Paradise....
