Feast of Saint Jerome

Saint Jerome (c. 347–420 AD) was best known for his Latin translation of the Bible, the Vulgate, which became the standard text for the Catholic Church for centuries. Born in Stridon (modern-day Croatia or Slovenia), he studied in Rome, mastering Latin, Greek, and rhetoric. Initially drawn to a secular life, he converted to Christianity and pursued asceticism, living as a hermit in the Syrian desert for several years.

Around age 45,  he translated the Old and New Testaments from Hebrew and Greek into Latin. His work aimed for accuracy and clarity, though it faced criticism from contemporaries like Augustine for departing from earlier translations.

Saint Jerome also wrote commentaries on Scripture, theological treatises, and letters defending his views, often with a sharp, polemical style. He opposed heresies, like Pelagianism (which denied the existence of original sin), and advocated for monasticism and virginity, influencing Christian thought.

He spent his later years in Bethlehem, leading a monastic community and continuing his scholarly work until his death on September 30, 420 AD.

Saint Jerome was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Benedict XIV in 1724.
His feast day is September 30.

He’s often depicted with a lion, based on a story where he removed a thorn from a lion’s paw, symbolizing his taming of wild passions through scholarship and faith

The cave of Saint Jerome is in Bethlehem and his relics are in Rome at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major.