Born in 431, Jerome traveled to Rome, where he spent six years studying the Latin and Greek languages and Roman literature. He was also baptized there. Yet, he struggled with his faith and in his temptations during those years, spending time as a monk and as a hermit in the desert. While in the desert, he was disciplined in prayer and fasting and studied Hebrew. He left the desert and studied biblical studies with St Gregory of Nanzianzen in the city of Constantinople. He spent decades of his life compiling an accurate Bible in Latin, completely re-translating the Old Testament and making major revisions to the translation of the New Testament. His translation in Latin, called the Vulgate, was the authoritative benchmark biblical text in Latin for more than 15 centuries. His sharp tongue and ornery disposition made him many enemies in Rome. He withdrew to the Holy Land where he founded a monastery for men, a convent for women, and a hospice for visitors to the Holy Land with some of his followers. He died in the year 420. He was named as one of the original four doctors of the Church in 1298, showing the importance of his contributions to the Catholic faith.
The refrain of our psalm today declares - God is with us. God is with us in different ways. God calls us in different ways. Jerome had the talent and the determination to study all those ancient languages and to spend years translating the Bible. His contributions to the faith are immense. Not everyone in the Church is called in the same way. We are not needed to be called in the same way. May we give thanks for the way God is with us on our journey.
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