ST. JEROME (SEPT. 30TH)

  

St. Jerome Translating the Vulgate, From an Italian Renaissance Manuscript

By Bp. Joseph (Ancient Church of the West)

Today, on the Feast of St. Jerome, Translator of the Latin Vulgate, Doctor in the Western Church.

St. Jerome, born around AD 347, is often remembered as a towering figure in Church history, primarily for his monumental work translating the Bible into Latin - the Vulgate. His dedication to rendering Scripture accessible in the common tongue was a tremendous contribution to Christianity, one that shaped the Western Church for centuries. However, Jerome was not without his flaws, and his legacy is marked by both triumphs and failings, a reminder to us that saints are not perfect but are nevertheless vessels through which God works.

Jerome’s passionate temper and fiery rhetoric alienated many contemporaries. His sharp wit and biting critiques were often aimed at those he considered heretical, but he also directed his fury towards his fellow Christians. The monastic communities that sought his guidance were sometimes subjected to his unreasonable anger. His harsh dealings with figures such as Rufinus, and even Augustine, reveal a man who struggled to temper his zeal with charity. His relationships were frequently marred by misunderstandings and conflicts, showing the very human side of a saint often placed on a pedestal. 

One of the most significant controversies surrounding Jerome’s work is the Latin Vulgate itself. While his translation became the standard for the Western Church, its imperfections were evident. Jerome’s mistranslation of certain key passages had lasting consequences for theology, especially in areas such as original sin and the role of Mary. His rendering of “metanoia” as “poenitentia” - implying penance rather than repentance - would shape the Latin world’s understanding of salvation, a misstep that contributed to centuries of doctrinal confusion in both Roman Catholic and Protestant traditions. The Vulgate, while a great achievement, highlights the limitations even of great saints. Jerome’s errors in translation underscore the truth that no saint is infallible, and the Church itself is the repository of God’s truth, always repenting and learning, and not in any one individual.

Yet, it would be unjust to dwell only on St. Jerome’s failings. His intense love for Scripture and his desire to see it spread was a labor of devotion to God. He was a master of languages, including Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, and he immersed himself in the original texts of Scripture to offer a faithful representation of God’s Word to the Latin-speaking world. His translation, despite its flaws, provided the foundation for Western theology, liturgy, and culture. In his ascetic life, Jerome embodied the call to repentance and devotion. He left the luxury of Roman society for the desert of Bethlehem, seeking holiness in solitude, fasting, and prayer.

St. Jerome’s struggles and mistakes, far from diminishing his sanctity, serve as reminders of the complexities of the Christian life. Many saints wrestled with their temperaments, their intellects, and their personal relationships. Like Jerome, they did not always succeed in harmonizing their gifts with humility or wisdom. Nevertheless, God used their efforts for the benefit of the Church. St. Jerome’s legacy is mixed, but it is also rich—he shows us that saints are not models of perfection but of perseverance in faith, laboring for Christ in the midst of human frailty.

On this day, we honor St. Jerome for his commitment to Scripture and his role in the Church’s development, while acknowledging that his errors remind us to rely on the Church’s collective wisdom. His story teaches us that holiness does not mean being free from error, but striving to serve God with all that we are, trusting that He works through our brokenness.

Through St. Jerome’s example, we are reminded that saints, like all of us, are flawed, yet their value lies in their faithfulness and their desire to glorify God, even when they fall short. May we, too, strive for holiness, knowing that God’s grace is sufficient for our weaknesses.

Let us remember the Feast of St. Jerome with the words of his own prayer; 

O Lord, Thou hast given us Thy Word for a Light to shine upon our path; 

grant us so to meditate on that Word, 

and to follow its teaching, 

that we may find in it the Light 

that shines more and more until the perfect day; 

through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who livest and reignest with Thee, 

in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.