Who is Saint Jerome? An Introduction

If you were wondering who stated, “Love is not to be purchased, and affection has no price,” then you’ve come to the right place. This article will focus on the life and accomplishments of Saint Jerome , a Croatian Christian Ascetic and scholar, whose name in Latin translates into Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus.

Jerome (~ 347 , 420)

This Christian apologist is best known for translating the Vulgate , a rather popular Latin version of the Bible, but he is also recognized as a canonized saint and Doctor of the Church by the Roman Catholic Church. Throughout the history of Catholicism, his translation of the Bible is pretty significant. In addition to the honors of the Roman Catholic Church, he is also seen as a saint within the Eastern Orthodox Church , known as St Jerome of Stridomium or Blessed Jerome.

If you scan old artistic representation of Jerome by the Roman Catholic Church, you will find that he is often depicted as the patron of theological learning. Sometimes, he is seen as a cardinal that is positioned by the side of Bishop Augustine, Archbishop Ambrose, and Pope Gregory I. Since there is a medieval tale involving this saint, he is sometimes portrayed as a lion, as he is said to have taken a thorn out of the paw of a lion. Rarely, he is seen as an owl because they stand for a symbol of wisdom and intelligence. Other icons associated with Jerome include writing materials, as well as a trumpet to signify a final judgment.

Facts About His Life

1) Jerome was born at Strido, which is located on the border between Pannonia and Dalmatia. This is what is known as Croatia of today. His birthplace is mention in his “De Viris Illustribus” (Chapter 135).

2) It is thought that Jerome could have been Illyrian and that he was born to Christian parents , but it is not certain if this is true or not. It is said that he was not baptized until around 360 or 366.

3) There was a time when he ran off with a friend named Bonosus to live as a hermit on an island situated in the Adriatic so that he could pursue studies in rhetoric and philosophy.

4) He was a pupil of Aelius Donatus , a grammarian.

5) Jerome learned Greek, but overlooked the possibility of studying the Greek Fathers or any Christian texts.

6) In the beginning, Jerome would use classical authors to explain common Christian concepts, such as hell. It is said that Jerome was initially skeptical of Christianity, but eventually converted.

7) There was a time period when Jerome would fall seriously ill. Around the winter of 373 and 374, he experienced a vision that guided him to lay aside his secular views and devote himself to the ways of God. Afterwards, it was stated that he abstained for quite some time from the study of the classics, embracing the Bible.