Amazon
Ads |
St
Jerome
(347–419)
Other names: Eusebius Hieronymous Sophronius
Biographical
A scholar and Doctor of the Church, Jerome was born into an affluent Christian
family. He was educated in Rome, where he was baptised at the age of 18,
and was tutored by the pagan scholar Donatus. He devoted himself to the
study of pagan classics. Afterwards, he visited Gaul, where he collected
a valuable library and became familiar with monasticism. In 372, he travelled
through Thrace, Pontus, and Cappadocia. In 1374, whilst in Antioch, he
had his famous dream or vision where he was brought before a judge and
rebuked over his pagan interests. This event caused him to retire to the
desert at Chalcis where he lived as a hermit for four years, and he learned
Hebrew. After resuming his career as a scholar, he returned to Rome in
around 382, and became secretary to Pope Damasus. Upon the death of the
pontiff, he found himself out of favour and unpopular due to his attacks
on pagans and others, and because of rumours concerning his relationships
with St Paula. With other exiles, he removed to Bethlehem where they established
monastic communities, and he lived there until his death. From the eighth
century, he was considered a Father of the Church. A large portion of
his writings were of a controversial character, exhibiting great learning,
eloquence, and ingenuity, though too often betraying bigotry, passion,
and bitterness. He opposed fervently anything that he considered heretical.
His greatest accomplishments are considered to be his Biblical translations,
particularly the Aocrypha, and the Latin Vulgate Bible that was the principal
authority until the 20th century.
Place of birth: Stridonium, near Aquileia, Italy,
Place of death Bethlehem
Place of burial: Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem; moved to Church of
Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome
© 2024 The Universal Compendium