Jerome

Who they were

Sophronius Eusebius Hieronymus was born around 347 at Stridon, in today's Croatia, to a well-off Christian family, and finished his studies in Rome, where he lived a worldly life before repenting and being baptised. He joined ascetics at Aquileia, then went East, perfecting his Greek at Antioch and living four years as a hermit in the desert of Chalcis, where he learned Hebrew. Ordained priest in 379, he studied further at Constantinople under Gregory of Nazianzus.

In 382 Pope Damasus made him his secretary and asked him to make a new Latin translation of the Bible, the work that became the Vulgate. In Rome he taught Scripture to a circle of noblewomen, but his severity and sharp temper made enemies. He left Rome with the widow Paula and her daughter Eustochium and settled at Bethlehem, where he opened a school and taught for free. He left behind commentaries, homilies, letters, the lives of illustrious men and a universal chronicle.

The miracles

There was never a formal cause: Jerome has been honoured as a saint since his death. Pius V proclaimed him a Doctor of the Church in 1567, with Ambrose, Augustine and Gregory the Great.

Why that counted as sanctity

Jerome gave his life to the Word of God, learning Hebrew in the desert so that the whole Church could read the Scriptures in its own language. Difficult by temperament, he overcame himself by penance and devoted every gift he had to the Bible.

Connected on this site

• Blaesilla Saint Pupil
• Eusebius of Cremona Saint Pupil
• Evagrius Ponticus Saint Teacher
• Augustine of Hippo Saint
  “Jerome is recognized as a saint and, along with Ambrose, Augustine of Hippo and Pope Gregory the Great, as one of the four Great Latin Church Fathers by the Catholic Church.” — Wikipedia
• Damasus I Saint
  “He is best known for his translation of the Bible into Latin (the translation that became known as the Vulgate), which was commissioned by Pope Damasus I, and his commentaries on the whole Bible.” — Wikipedia
• Gregory of Nazianzus Saint
  “Ordained priest in 379, he studied further at Constantinople under Gregory of Nazianzus.” — this site's research