St. Jerome and the Latin Vulgate – Why His Work Still Matters Today (30 September)

About this sermon

Can a saint be cranky? St. Jerome certainly proves that holiness does not mean having a flawless personality. On the Feast of St. Jerome, Priest, Confessor, Doctor of the Church, and one of history's greatest biblical scholars, we look at the remarkable life of the man best remembered for his monumental work on the Latin Vulgate Bible. Jerome's road to sanctity was anything but simple. Born in Dalmatia and educated in Greek, Latin, rhetoric, and philosophy, he spent part of his youth pursuing worldly pleasures. Yet even before his conversion, his conscience troubled him. He would descend into the Roman catacombs, contemplate death and judgment, and gradually find himself drawn toward the Catholic Faith. After his conversion, Jerome threw his enormous intellectual ability into the service of Christ. He traveled, studied theology and Scripture, embraced an ascetical life in the desert, learned Hebrew, became a priest, studied under St. Gregory Nazianzen, and eventually served Pope St. Damasus in Rome. Jerome ultimately settled in Bethlehem, where the sermon recounts that he spent decades studying, translating, and commenting upon Sacred Scripture. His knowledge of Latin, Greek, and Hebrew—and his determination to return to ancient sources—helped make his biblical work one of the great intellectual achievements of Christian history. But Jerome was no plaster statue. He had a temper. He could be extraordinarily blunt. When visitors interrupted his solitude and studies, the sermon even recounts Jerome throwing rocks to make them leave. He also became embroiled in a memorable exchange of letters with St. Augustine. Eventually the two reconciled, but the episode reminds us that saints were real human beings who still had weaknesses to overcome. And therein lies one of the greatest lessons of St. Jerome. God did not wait until Jerome was perfect before using him. His intelligence, education, past failures, forceful personality, knowledge of languages, years of study, penance, and burning love for Christ were all placed at God's disposal. Even the sins of his past became occasions for repentance, reparation, and greater service to others. Whatever has happened in your past, give God what you have now. St. Jerome, pray for us. 00:00 St. Jerome: Priest & Doctor of the Church 00:43 Early Life of St. Jerome 01:18 Jerome's Troubled Youth in Rome 02:05 The Catacombs, Death & the Fear of Hell 02:45 How Catholic Example Can Convert Souls 03:18 St. Jerome Converts 03:27 Traveling in Search of Wisdom 03:53 Illness Changes Jerome's Life 04:15 Five Years as an Ascetic 04:29 Why Jerome Learned Hebrew 05:20 Returning to the Original Scriptures 05:35 St. Jerome Becomes a Priest 05:53 Studying Under St. Gregory Nazianzen 06:10 Secretary to Pope St. Damasus 06:25 The Council of Rome & the Biblical Canon 07:28 Which Books Belong in the Bible? 08:24 Jerome's Extraordinary Biblical Education 09:04 Making Reparation for His Past 09:28 St. Jerome & the Holy Women of Rome 10:14 Jerome Is Forced to Leave Rome 10:37 St. Paula & St. Jerome 11:17 Jerome Goes to Bethlehem 11:33 Decades Studying Sacred Scripture 11:47 The Septuagint & Old Latin Bible 12:28 Jerome's Access to Ancient Sources 13:23 The Latin Vulgate 14:03 Translating the New & Old Testaments 15:07 Jerome's Other Writings 15:32 St. Jerome Had a Temper 15:49 Jerome Throws Rocks at Visitors! 16:06 St. Jerome vs. St. Augustine 16:40 Saints Aren't Perfect People 17:05 How God Used Jerome's Entire Life 17:42 Death of St. Jerome 18:06 What St. Jerome Teaches Us 18:30 Give Even Your Past to God Please remember to say 3 Hail Marys for the priest #StJerome #SaintJerome #CatholicSaints #DoctorOfTheChurch #LatinVulgate #CatholicBible #Bible #SacredScripture #CatholicChurch #CatholicFaith #CatholicHistory #Saints #StAugustine #ChurchFathers #CatholicTradition #CatholicSermon #CatholicHomily #TraditionalCatholic #Catholicism #SensusFidelium 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ 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/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴