St. Jerome (30 September): Can A Saint Be Cranky?

About this sermon

St. Jerome famously declared: “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.” But knowing the Bible means far more than finding a verse, deciding what we think it means, and moving on. St. Jerome devoted himself intensely to Sacred Scripture, studying Hebrew and Greek and laboring to understand the Word of God. Yet this brilliant Doctor of the Church also reminds us of something desperately needed today: Sacred Scripture demands humility. The greatest saints spent lifetimes plumbing its depths. In this homily, we look at the very human side of St. Jerome—his fiery personality, his exchanges with St. Augustine, his love for the infancy of Christ, and his decision to establish his monastic life in Bethlehem. His love of Christ drove his extraordinary love for Scripture. But there is also a challenge here for every Catholic. When we read Scripture, does it ever shake us, convict us, or make us uncomfortable? If our encounter with God's Word produces nothing but affirmation and pleasant feelings, are we really allowing the Word of God to penetrate our hearts? Scripture is described as sharper than a two-edged sword. Sometimes the Divine Physician must cut deeply. The sermon also addresses Genesis, the Psalms, faith and science, difficult passages of Scripture, and the danger of superficial interpretations. We should read Scripture, meditate upon it, and pray with it—but always with humility and within the sure guideposts provided by the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. Finally, we receive a practical recommendation: go back to the Fathers, Saints, and Doctors of the Church. Rather than beginning with whatever interpretation appeals to us, learn from those who spent their lives praying, fasting, studying, and contemplating the mysteries contained in God's Word. St. Jerome, pray for us, that we may love Sacred Scripture—not merely to confirm ourselves, but to know, love, and follow Jesus Christ. 📖 “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.” 00:00 St. Jerome: Biblical scholar and saint 00:16 Leaving Rome for prayer and asceticism 00:31 Jerome's monasteries in Bethlehem 00:39 The very human side of St. Jerome 00:55 His extraordinary dedication to Scripture 01:02 14 years studying Hebrew 01:17 Jerome's zeal for the Catholic Faith 01:34 St. Jerome and St. Augustine clash 01:51 Even saints have human imperfections 02:22 Jerome's devotion to the infancy of Christ 02:55 Why he chose Bethlehem 03:03 “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ” 03:18 Scripture before printing presses and smartphones 03:35 How ancient Christians encountered Scripture 04:01 St. Jerome's warning about expertise 04:31 Would you trust an inexperienced surgeon? 04:47 Scripture and the medicine of the soul 05:04 The mysteries contained in God's Word 05:19 Don't jump to conclusions about Scripture 05:41 Milk before meat 06:05 A biblical self-examination 06:35 Genesis, inspiration and difficult questions 06:58 Science and the inspired Word of God 07:32 Are Christians too quick to dismiss Scripture? 08:05 The Psalms: a compendium of theology 08:43 Does Scripture ever unsettle you? 08:58 Scripture must console AND convict 09:23 The Divine Surgeon's knife 09:39 “This is a hard saying” 10:03 The danger of superficial Bible reading 10:11 A Church Father's decades-long prayer 10:52 God teaches him humility 11:08 The problem with instant interpretations 11:38 Why Catholics need the Magisterium 12:01 Misusing verses and biblical caricatures 12:18 The Magisterium as a tremendous gift 12:39 A warning about modern commentaries 12:54 Read the Fathers and Doctors of the Church 13:11 Priests and bishops must serve God's Word 13:35 Scripture cannot mean whatever we want 13:50 Grounding interpretation in the Church 14:07 St. Jerome's enduring legacy 14:14 “Ignorance of Christ” For more please visit http://www.stacharlotte.com/library/daily-mass-homilies & remember to say 3 Hail Marys for the priest #StJerome #SaintJerome #SacredScripture #CatholicBible #BibleStudy #CatholicBibleStudy #CatholicChurch #Magisterium #ChurchFathers #DoctorsOfTheChurch 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ SUPPORT THE MISSION 🙏 Donate https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 📬 Free Catholic Newsletter https://sensusfidelium.com/newsletter/ 📰 Read on Substack https://sensusfidelium.substack.com/ ──────────────────── 📺 WATCH & READ 📺 Sensus Fidelium App https://sensusfidelium.tv/ 📚 Sensus Fidelium Press https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ 👕 Official Merchandise https://sensusfidelium.com/merchandise/ ──────────────────── 🤝 PARTNER WITH US 📣 Advertise on Sensus Fidelium https://sensusfidelium.com/advertise-with-sensus-fidelium/ 🎤 Invite Steve Cunningham to Speak https://sensusfidelium.com/speaking/ ⛪ Parish Formation & Consultation https://sensusfidelium.com/for-parishes/ ──────────────────── 🌎 CATHOLIC COMMUNITY ✝️ Trusted Catholic Businesses https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴�