Saint Jerome: History, biography, prayer and much more

St Jerome was one of the greatest pupils of Pope Damasus. He wrote the Vulgate, a Latin translation of the Scriptures. Learn more about the life and work of this saint, who is considered the patron saint of the Holy Church.

Biography of Saint Jerome

St Jerome was born in a village called Stridon, which belonged to the department of Dalmatia and was later destroyed by the Goths at the end of the 3rd century. The exact date of his birth is not known, but it is contextualised as before the death of Emperor Julian, who was responsible for the desecration of the remains of St John the Baptist.

His parents belonged to the upper middle class and had a modest fortune. He devoted himself to translation and theology, with a special emphasis on the study of the Bible. He was decorated as the best translator of his time and perhaps served as an example to other scholars to turn their interest to unravelling the mysteries of the Holy Scriptures.

At the age of 12, he went to Rome with his best friend to study astronomy, grammar and literature, where he had the advantage of studying with the great teacher Elio Donato. From him he learnt the essentials to become the best Latinist and connoisseur of the Greek language. However, his knowledge of the Bible and other sacred writings was scant at first.

St Jerome spent hours reading Latin authors such as Cicero, Virgil and Horace, the former being his greatest influence on Latin culture, while Homer and Plato, among the Greek authors, also enriched his mind.

The great Saint Jerome was a frequent visitor to the theatre and the circus in Rome. He studied rhetoric and Greek literature under Bonosus. In Trier, he took his theological studies very seriously, the mainspring of which was the analysis of the Psalms of Hilary of Poitiers. Already on his way to this community, he decided to break his family ties in order to dedicate himself to God’s plans and to serve Christianity.

St Jerome was not exempt from falling seriously ill and losing some friendships for the same reason. In 374 he had a serious relapse during which he experienced many delusions. In one of them he dreamt that he had to give up his studies in order to devote himself entirely to the service of God. As a result, he gave up his student work to devote himself to the analysis and translation of the Bible.

 

St Jerome felt that he needed to do penance to atone for his sins, so he went to the desert of Antioch. On several occasions he had to overcome his own pride, arrogance and bad character in order to serve the Most High completely. Gradually he discovered that solitude in the desert was not the way out, for he relapsed again and did not find the peace he sought.

He resumed his theological studies in order to carefully examine the Gospel of the Hebrews, which was the source of the Gospel of St Matthew. He demonstrated his knowledge of literary criticism by giving his opinion on this text and on the Old Testament. In 379 he was appointed bishop by Paulinus of Antioch. Some time later he went to Constantinople to continue his study of the mysteries of the Bible.

With his teacher Gregory, he learnt to translate the Bible linearly, which led to many disputes with the Council of Nicaea. As well as translating, he made various comparisons between the different versions of the text. In 382 he returned to Rome by chance when he was appointed Bishop of Italy due to the illness of St Ambrose.

Pope Damasus I was so interested in the efficiency with which St Jerome carried out his duties that he appointed him his private secretary. The saint offered to write the letters he was to send. He undertook the task of translating the Bible that was in the Vatican so that all the Hebrew-speaking citizens would know its contents. This translation became known as the Vulgate.

St Jerome served as a spiritual teacher to a group of upper class women or ladies of the Roman Congregation. He introduced the women to the study of the Scriptures. He had the joy of sharing with Paula of Rome, the mother of his friend Eustochius. St Jerome instilled in a society the need to abandon vanity and to carry out works of charity.

It was not all plain sailing for St Jerome in the education of women, as he was accused of slander by the Roman clergy. The saint defended himself by saying that his relationship with Paula of Rome served to clarify the work of the Vulgate. St Jerome helped Damasus I to organise an anthology of canonical books on the New and Old Testaments, called the Decree of Damasus.

Later, the Pope commissioned St Jerome to make a new translation of the Bible, including all the books of the Old and New Testaments, to distinguish it from the other version of Scripture that had long been in circulation in the West.

At the age of 46, St Jerome was promoted to the priesthood for his hard work and effectiveness in mending the ways of society. However, envy and greed followed him when his patron Damasus I died. Slander against the saint grew, as did opposition to his rigid way of running the diocese. He had no choice but to leave for the Holy Land to find the peace he could not find in Rome.

He spent the last years of his life in seclusion in a cave in Bethlehem, together with Paula and Eustochius. Together with some of the women he had taught, they concentrated on preaching the Word of God. Together they built a convent to help the helpless girls. Later they built a convent, where St Jerome dedicated himself to the work of the men and Paula to that of the women.

St Jerome finally died on 30 September 420 due to a serious decline in his health. 30 September is now known as the Day of All Translators.

History of St Jerome

Saint Jerome was born in a village called Stridon, which was part of the Dalmatian département and later overrun by the Goths at the end of the 3rd century.

He was decorated as the best translator of his time and perhaps served as an example to other scholars to turn their interest to unravelling the mysteries of the sacred scriptures.

At the age of 12, he went to Rome with his best friend to study astronomy, grammar and literature, where he had the privilege of studying with the great teacher Elio Donato. From him he learnt the essentials to become the best Latinist and connoisseur of the Greek language. However, his knowledge of the Bible and other sacred writings was scant at first.

St Jerome spent hours reading Latin authors such as Cicero, Virgil and Horace, the former being his greatest influence on Latin culture, while Homer and Plato, among the Greek authors, also enriched his mind.

The great Saint Jerome was a frequent visitor to the theatre and the circus in Rome. He studied rhetoric and Greek literature under Bonosus. At Trier, he took his theological studies very seriously, the mainspring of which was the analysis of the Psalms of Hilary of Poitiers. Already on his way to this community, he decided to break his family ties in order to dedicate himself to God’s plan and to serve Christianity.

In 374 he had a serious relapse during which he experienced many delusions. In one of them he dreamt that he had to give up his studies in order to devote himself entirely to the service of God. As a result, he gave up his student work to devote himself to analysing and translating the Bible.

St Jerome felt that he needed to do penance to atone for his sins, so he went to the desert of Antioch. On several occasions he had to overcome his own pride, arrogance and bad character in order to serve the Most High completely. Gradually he discovered that solitude in the desert was not the way out, for he relapsed again and did not find the peace he sought.

Pope Damasus I was interested in the efficiency with which St Jerome carried out his duties and even appointed him his private secretary. The saint offered to write the letters he was to send. He undertook the task of translating the Bible, which was kept in the Vatican, so that all Hebrew-speaking citizens would know its contents. This translation became known as the Vulgate.

What does Saint Jerome mean?

The term “Jerome” means the one who has a holy name or the holy name. St Jerome did not manage to be baptised, but he was accepted as a catechumen in order to study in depth the secrets of the Holy Scriptures. St Jerome was a great and tireless translator. His mission was to make the secrets of the Bible known in different languages so that all citizens could have the sacred texts at their fingertips.

Saint Jerome’s Day

St Jerome’s Day is celebrated every year on 30 September. The Catholic Church celebrates the greatest exponent of translation. It is thanks to this saint that the Holy Scriptures were so easily disseminated through different language editions, so that everyone could have a translated Bible at their fingertips.

St Jerome encouraged the faithful to “love the Sacred Scriptures” in order to know each of their important secrets. Every year on 30 September, the Church asks its faithful to read the Bible with great devotion.

He is the patron saint of Santa Fe in Paraguay. The 30th of September is declared a public holiday, so no classes are held, no shops are open and all government jobs are suspended to celebrate San Jerónimo.

It is not known for certain when the translator was adopted as the patron saint, but it is thought that important dates can be found in the documents of the old City Council. Other Santa Fe researchers have pointed out that this devotion was born out of a lottery. Apparently, these random activities were very common in the city to determine which saint and on which date they should be commemorated.

According to the records, the first date was 16 September 1590. Eventually it was moved to the 30th of the same month. The alderman was responsible for organising the fairs of San Jerónimo, whose main activity was bullfighting. In the same way, a solemn mass is celebrated with the altar that was decorated at that time. A procession through the main streets of Santa Fe and a soiree.

The Holy Church put its trust in St Jerome to make the Holy Scriptures known throughout the world. His message was very clear: “Love the Sacred Scriptures, for they contain the salvation of sinners”.

If you want to know about a great feast capable of moving millions of pilgrims, then learn about the feast of Candlemas.

What did St Jerome do?

He devoted his work to translation and theology, with an emphasis on the study of the Bible. He was decorated as the best translator of his time and perhaps set an example for other scholars to turn their interest to unravelling the mysteries of the Scriptures.

In 379 he was appointed bishop by Paulinus of Antioch. Some time later he went to Constantinople to continue his study of the mysteries of the Bible.

The saint offered to write the letters that Damasus I was to send. He undertook to translate the Bible, which was kept in the Vatican, so that all Hebrew-speaking citizens would know its contents. This translation became known as the Vulgate.

Novena to St Jerome

The most famous novena to St Jerome was written by a parishioner in 1779. Monsignor Pedro Rubio granted 40 days of indulgence to those who prayed this novena. The rosary begins on 21 September and ends on his feast day, 30 September. It consists of an opening prayer and daily meditations.

Opening prayer for each day

(Before making the Sign of the Cross)

O holy God, whose great gifts and marvellous virtues I have discovered too late, I prostrate myself before you today through the mediation of St. Jerome in this novena. I am truly sorry for all the faults I have committed. I want all my sins to be forgiven so that when I go to heaven I can boast of you. I consider myself unworthy of You and therefore hope that You will not deprive me of Your friendship.

Participate in this novena in honour of the great physician Saint Jerome, an example to be followed for his fidelity to the Sacred Scriptures. I resolutely propose to follow his inviolable example in order to defend his precepts. Forever offer me the solution to all my problems and needs. Amen.

Meditation for the first day

O blessed Saint Jerome, I thank you for the humility you have always shown. You who made known to all Christians the plans written in the Bible, I ask you to bless me forever and ever. In heaven you were received with infinite applause for all the works you have done on earth. I want to be your exemplary servant, to know how to interpret every word written by God.

In Bethlehem you were in seclusion, while in Rome you triumphed at the hand of Damasus I. As his faithful secretary, I hope to serve God in the same way, to be well received in his fatherly lap. Fill each day of my life with peace. Amen,

You have been called to your kingdom, your humility is evident, you can speak to it and do not miss the opportunity. That you may not grow weary, what do you have to improve, in St Jerome, his humility. Pray to God and to the saint to attain his virtue.

Meditation of the second day

God, I do not know how to repay You for all the favours You have bestowed on me. Show me the right path forever, so that I may not lose my way. O protector of Saint Jerome, our father and father of the whole Church, teach me to go forward without looking back, to leave behind all that is negative. Drive away my enemies, as St Mark tamed the wild beast, subdue each one of them.

O God, with the Holy Spirit I have hope that these petitions will be answered. Grant me the great virtues of St Jerome, I also ask for the forgiveness of my faults, so that I may joyfully climb the stairs that lead to heaven. Amen.

He is called the sun of the doctors, who came from the penitent Jerome; from him I hope to receive his greatest gifts. He who was a morning star, who overcame a thousand heresies, great sovereign light, from him I hope to obtain favours.

Beautiful Moon, the most radiant in the infinite sky, serene moonlit night, in the name of Saint Jerome, tell Him that someone worships Him. O Sun, O Moon, teach me the path that leads to unique purity.

O God, who knew how to reward men with the great virtue of St Jerome in deciphering the Sacred Scriptures, to you and to him I commend myself in this novena. Amen. You can find out about other very important rosaries, such as the novena to St Mark of Leon.

 

Meditation for the third day

O blessed Saint Jerome, who on more than one occasion despised pagan goods in order to dedicate yourself firmly to the dogmas of the Lord. You who left your family to find refuge with the great Damasus. More than one devotee is grateful for your translations, because through them they have found absolution for their sins. Thank you, blessed Saint Jerome, for the monasteries, buildings and convents you have built for men and women to serve God.

O holy Jerome, who had time only to translate God’s greatest divine work. Protect me from calumnies, as you did when you ignored the accusations of the Roman clergy. Forgive my enemies, who often do not know what they are doing or saying. Thank you for your supreme obedience to the majestic Damasus and the serene Eustochius. Fill every day of my life with peace. Amen.

You have been called to your kingdom, and your humility has stood out; you can speak to it and do not waste the opportunity. May you not grow weary in what you have to improve in St Jerome, his humility. Pray to God and to the Saint to attain his virtue.

St Jerome has a great virtue: obedience. You can also learn the virtues of the great Saint Blaise, protector of people and animals.

Meditation for the fourth day

O benevolent Saint Jerome, who was a wonderful example of penance and mortification. Again and again I pray to you that sad loneliness may not overtake me, nor storms lash my heart. I ask you to dry my tears and fill me with joy. With the pen with which Hieronymus translated, may I write a beautiful story in which I can boast of him forever and ever.

I ask through the mediation of Jerome that if I have to do any penance to praise him, I will do it with the greatest possible pride. Fill me with peace and love. Amen.

He is considered the sun of the doctors who come from the penitent Jerome, from him I hope to receive their greatest gifts. He who was a morning star, who overcame a thousand heresies, great sovereign light, from him I hope to obtain favours.

Beautiful Moon, the most radiant in the infinite sky, serene moonlit night, in the name of Saint Jerome, tell Him that someone worships Him. O Sun, O Moon, teach me the path that leads to unique purity.

If you want to discover the novena of a very effective and powerful virgin, you should go to the novena of the Virgin Mary Help of Christians.

Meditation for the fifth day

O Saint Jerome, who was persecuted by heretics and slanderers, drive away all those who seek my misfortune. Make them understand the true meaning of the Holy Scriptures and that there is the fear of God and a final judgement that will not fail. You who suffered hardship and loneliness in the desert of Antioch, understand this novena which I dedicate to you with joy.

I hope to be a patient person, not to be carried away by my impulses which sometimes betray me. Fill me with peace and love every day of my life. Amen.

To your kingdom you have been called, from you your humility has stood out, to it you can speak and do not miss the opportunity. So that you do not grow tired, what do you have to improve in St Jerome, in his humility? Pray to God and to the Saint to attain his virtue.

By making a novena to St Expeditus, the saint of impossible cases, you can support the novena of St Jerome and obtain maximum protection.

Meditation for the sixth day

Saint Jerome, who was God’s mediator to make his story known to all in different languages, I ask you on this occasion to give me your protection. Watch over all my family and loved ones, so that the persistent arms of evil may never reach them. O Mighty Physician, prevent me from falling into idleness, which is the mother of all vices, and remove from me all feelings of gambling and other worldly things.

Teach me to follow in your footsteps in order to decipher the dogmas of God our Lord. Fill each day of my life with peace and love. Amen.

He is considered to be the Sun of the Doctors, who came from the penitent Jerome, from whom I hope to receive his greatest gifts. He who was a morning star, who overcame thousands of heresies, great sovereign light, from him I hope to obtain favours.

Beautiful Moon, the most radiant in the infinite sky, serene moonlit night, in the name of Saint Jerome, tell Him that someone worships Him. O Sun, O Moon, teach me the path that leads to unique purity.

He knows the novena to St Anthony of Padua, which is very important for all his followers. It is as popular as the novena to St Jerome.

Meditation for the seventh day

O beloved St Jerome, who overcame the sorrows of the desert and the fears of being alone in a world of nothingness. You, who were a great philosopher of life, make my understanding as real as yours. Enlighten my knowledge to make the right decision at the right time. Drive away all distractions and restlessness that prevent me from progressing on the path of virtue.

Benefit me in the name of God, so that all my sins may be forgiven, for the purpose of knowing Paradise, reigned by St Michael the Archangel and his seraphim. Fill me forever with peace and love. Amen.

You were called to your kingdom, from you your humility stood out, to it you can speak and do not waste the opportunity. So that you may not grow weary, what do you have to improve in St Jerome, in his humility? Pray to God and to the saint to attain his virtue.

Meditation for the eighth day

O Jerome, who dedicated your life to the observance of the commandments of the Most High and translated his entire work into Latin and Greek, I hope that you will transform my sorrows into joys, my solitude into companionship and my ignorance into understanding. The Holy Church and your devotees invoke your protection every 30th September. Do not throw this novena to the ground, for with it I want to glorify you. Fill my life forever with love and peace. Amen.

He is called the Sun of the Physicians, who came from the penitent Jerome, from whom I hope to receive his greatest gifts. He who was a morning star, who overcame a thousand heresies, great sovereign light, from whom I hope to obtain favours.

Beautiful Moon, the most radiant in the infinite sky, serene moonlit night, in the name of Saint Jerome, tell Him that someone worships Him. O Sun, O Moon, teach me the path that leads to unique purity.

Meditation for the Ninth Day

Glorious Saint Jerome, I bid you farewell with gratitude for having listened to the nine prayers in your honour. I urge you to follow your faithful example of justice and righteousness. Your power transcends every page translated and every pen used. Blessed art Thou forever, may my paths lead to teaching and interpretation, that I may understand many things set forth in the Holy Scriptures. Fill me forever with peace and joy. Amen.

You have been called to your kingdom, your humility is evident, you can speak to it and do not miss the opportunity. So that you may not grow weary, what do you have to improve in St Jerome, in his humility? Pray to God and to the saint to attain his virtue.

Prayer to St Jerome

By praying to St Jerome, you will be able to obtain his infinite gifts. Remember also that there are the protective prayers of St Michael the Archangel, which you should know.

-St Jerome, show us forever your great knowledge, your serenity and your calmness in resolving conflicts. Forever cheer up the lives of children and the elderly, so that they may live in the fullness of God’s grace. Teach them the right way to do good, so that they may not offend God. Protect them, for they are the most innocent beings in the world. Amen.

-O St. Jerome, thank you for being the best example for our Church, working intensely on the great biblical writings. O faithful knight of intelligence and wisdom, may the love of God always be our philosophy, with the greatest possible tribute to attain His full grace. Amen.

Each prayer should end with an Our Father and a Glory Be.

Prayer to St Jerome the Doctor

-O glorified Saint Jerome, considered the father and doctor of the Catholic Church, I ask you to transmit to me all your philosophical teachings, so that I may clearly understand the dogmas found in the Holy Scriptures. Great Latin teacher and litterateur, protect me with the divine word emanating from God our Lord. Take care of the Catholic Church and all its members, so that they may serve the Most High day by day with the greatest possible honesty. Forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer to St Jerome for dominion

By praying to St Jerome, you will be able to subdue the negative beings who seek your misfortune, just as St Mark of Leon subdued his enemies.

-O most holy Jerome, you who have excelled in the offices of translation and have been promoted to Doctor of the Mother Catholic Church. I ask you to drive away the evil people who want to see me destroyed. Do not let them see before your eyes that I have suffered, cried and begged for mercy. O merciful priest, I invoke Your protection so that evil hearts may not interfere with my plans, so that You may grant me the greatest success.

Great saint, full of wisdom and humility, I hope you will listen to these words, so that you may subdue my enemies and do me no harm. Amen.

Pray 4 Our Fathers and five Hail Marys for greater protection.

Prayer to St Jerome for Love

With St Jerome, you can also pray for the arrival of pure and honest love through his prayers. The only condition is to pray the following prayer with great faith. But there are always other alternatives, such as the holy red death.

-O majestic St Jerome, who was a loving priest before the offices of the holy Church, I beseech you to obtain from me the gift of devotion to love. I wish that my heart may again feel a flood of emotions in the presence of someone very special. Blessed Saint, make the flames of love revive this heart that has not beaten for this beautiful universal feeling for a long time. Amen.

-Saint Jerome, on this occasion I come to you with the great sorrow of knowing that I have been abandoned by my partner with whom I have shared unforgettable moments. Help his rebellious heart to submit to my cause. Make him understand that pride will lead him nowhere but to the path of loneliness and unhappiness. O holy saint, may he return, may he return to me repentant for having left me. Amen.

-Great doctor and philosopher Saint Jerome, before you my partner and I come to you to bless our love. Protect forever this feeling that was born unexpectedly. Take care of our children, so that they may be good people in the future, and we wish them to achieve all their goals. Let no third party interfere with this romance, let no insult damage what has begun. Amen.

Works of St Jerome

There is no doubt that St Jerome’s most important work is the Vulgate, but there are other letters that make up his biblical exegesis. Some of the saint’s other letters are on various subjects, to the extent that around 160 of them have been collected.

Among the main themes are: conversations with his friends, on scholarship, philosophical considerations, other somewhat flawed translations, and others that relate to his moments of solitude or confrontation with other scholars of his time. Some 14 letters formed part of a small anthology of theological research known as Heliodorum de laude vitae solitariae.

Other writings by St Jerome exhorting good education to form good men were written for his friend Eustochius. Many of his works have been collected to form the prestigious Library of Christian Authors, whose volumes have been edited in two languages by Daniel Bueno.

St Jerome also wrote the first history of Christian literature, known in Latin as De Viris Ilustribus, which he wrote during his stay in Bethlehem in 392. The book collects the biographies of 135 Christian authors, including St Jerome himself. One of its sections is devoted to Western authors.

He also wrote the Temporum liber, a timeline of the main events of the School of Caesarea. It covers the period from 325 to 372.

Just as St Jerome produced countless works in translation, it is also important to know the works of St Augustine.

Saint Jerome Quotes

Here are the best quotes by the great Saint Jerome, patron saint of the Church and the greatest exponent of Christian philosophy:

• “See to it that you are always working, lest the evil powers of the devil tempt you with vice.”
• “For every Christian, there is no difference between the task of deceiving and being deceived”.
• “To ignore the Holy Scriptures is to ignore Christ Himself.
• “According to the degree of faith you have, you will go through life. If you have faith, all doors will be opened to you without impossibility”.
• “From every thorn you can get a beautiful rose.

• “Try to achieve your own perfection, for if you do not, it would be a serious offence”.
• “Those friendly relations that have an end, it means that they were never true”.
• “Work in haste to live slowly.
• “Do not let your intentions betray your words if you do not put into practice what you say”.
• “The mirror of the mind is always the face; the eyes, though they do not speak, end by confessing the secrets of the heart.
• “The wise man, before he speaks, must first meditate.
• “The pain of the body sometimes ends when serenity comes to the soul.
• “When it is time to pray, you will always pray for Jesus; when you read the Bible, it is He who speaks to you.
• “You must love the Holy Scriptures so that wisdom will love you in the same way. With it you will be able to erase any lack and feel good. That is the most important thing to do.
• “All the money in the world cannot buy affection and love”.

St. Rose of Lima also offers her reflective phrases, get to know her, a bit of her life and more.

St Jerome and the Bible

St Jerome dedicated part of his life to studying the Bible, with the aim of translating it and improving its knowledge, which spread throughout the West with the Vulgate. He went so far as to convert the Scriptures into different versions in both Latin and Greek.

Pope Damasus ordered St Jerome to include the texts of the Old and New Testaments in a modified form. The Vulgate was received with great success by Christians, and was considered their masterpiece.

The Monastery of San Jerónimo in Granada

The Monastery of San Jerónimo in Granada is a large Renaissance-style building. It is located in the city of Granada, in the province of Andalusia.

The monastery has been declared a Site of Cultural Interest and Patrimony of Spain. It was slightly modified in 1874 to give it more space.

The Catholic Monarchs ordered its construction in 1504. Diego de Sloé was the architect who began the work, without detracting from the merits of Jacobo Florentino, Pablo de Rojas, Juan de Aragón and Pedro de Orea, who supervised the construction throughout. Following the fashion of the time, the church had a Latin cross floor plan with a wide altar and staircase.

Pablo de Rojas was involved in the creation of the main chapel, in which he used a Mannerist method (Mannerism was coming to Andalusia), with beautiful iconography to highlight the best images. The cloister is completely Renaissance in style, with each cup decorated from the front.

In 1513 Jacobo Florentino took over from Pablo de Rojas. He was later replaced by Solé. In 1522 a large part of the monastery was completed and the bodies of the great Patriarch and his wife were transferred there to rest. Due to the destruction caused by the French Revolution, the monastery was rebuilt.

Church of San Jerónimo

The main church of San Jerónimo is located in Granada, Andalusia.

The Catholic Monarchs ordered its construction in 1504. Diego de Sloé was the architect who began the construction, without detracting from the work of Jacobo Florentino, Pablo de Rojas, Juan de Aragón and Pedro de Orea, who supervised the building at all times. Following the fashion of the time, the church had a Latin cross floor plan with a wide altar and staircase.

Pablo de Rojas was involved in the design of the main chapel, in which he created a mannerist style (mannerism was coming to Andalusia with a vengeance), with beautiful iconography to highlight the best images. The cloister is completely Renaissance in style, with each cup decorated on the front.

San Jerónimo el Real

The church or monastery of San Jerónimo el Real is one of the most important in Spain, as it is located in Madrid. It is also known as the Church of Los Jerónimos. Its architectural style is similar to that of the convent of San Jerónimo in Granada, since it is Renaissance.

The construction of this temple was sponsored by the Spanish monarchy, which encouraged the devotion to the great saint for his philosophy and Christian knowledge. Fray Lorenzo de Nicolás was in charge of this important project of the time. It is important to note that this temple remained abandoned and in ruins for an entire century, and it was not until the 20th century that construction work was resumed.

Rafael Moreno, an important architect who was in charge of the Prado Museum, was responsible for the reconstruction of the monastery.

Initially, the monastery was to be visited by members of the court, as Cardinal Cisneros decreed that “it was the duty of kings and other gentlemen of noble birth to visit the monastery of San Jerónimo”. During the reign of Felipe II, the Royal Hall was built to receive pilgrims who came to worship Saint Jerónimo.

The long lethargy that halted construction was due to the outbreak of the Napoleonic War in 1808. Napoleon’s army partially destroyed the monastery of St Jerome, which had previously been restored by Philip IV. Years later, St Francis of Assisi attempted to rebuild the building; in fact, he is credited with the main towers of the monastery.

An important event that took place in the monastery was the marriage of King Alfonso XIII to Victoria Eugenia de Battenberg in 1906.

Once again, the convent had to be rebuilt, as the staircase was not in harmony with the façade of the building. Even the bush that was blocking the entrance was cut down. It looked bad in the face of a well-kept city like Madrid.

With this action, under the direction of the Ministry of Culture, the site of the temple was rearranged. A parsonage was built at the back of the temple to house the priest in charge of the convent and his assistants.

The following is a timeline of the most important events in the history of the Monastery of San Jerónimo el Real:

• 1504 – The Spanish monarchy orders the construction of the temple.
• 1560 – Construction of the main cloister, which soon became a ruin.
• 1612 – Construction of the southern cloister.
• 1808 – The Napoleonic invasion partially destroys the monastery.

 

• 1812 – Reconstruction of the church is considered.
• 1835 – The site is temporarily converted into a barracks and hospital for invalids.
• 1859 – Francis of Assisi undertakes the restoration.
• 1905 – The staircase is modified in anticipation of the wedding of Alfonso XIII.
• 1940 – The presbytery and grounds of the convent are enlarged.
• 1990 – The Ministry of Culture makes further modifications to the cloister.
• 2007 – The cloister is incorporated into the Prado Museum by agreement.

Monastery of San Jeronimo

The Monastery of San Jeronimo is located in Mexico City. The place is all the more symbolic because the great Santa Juana Inés de La Cruz spent part of her life there.

The sanctuary was opened in 1623 by Professor Alonso Martínez López. San Jerónimo was not its original name, but the convent of Nuestra Señora de Expectación a la orden de San Jerónimo. It was a place that had different owners, such as Isabel de Guevara, whose idea was to join her house to that of Alonso Ortíz in order to enlarge the temple.

It was the first convent of Hieronymite nuns in the world. The women who belonged to it came from aristocratic families, as it was really difficult to afford their stay in the temple. Some others came from white Spanish Creole families, so it was easy to get there.

Although the convent generated considerable income, it was not as fortunate as expected in the early days, because in 1629 it was the victim of the greatest flood Mexico had ever seen. As if that were not enough, the tremors also damaged the infrastructure. A series of investigations revealed that most of the women were in fact almost exclusively Creole.

Many nuns died in the floods. During the subsequent restoration work, several important objects were found alongside the women’s bones, such as medals, various crosses, needles and, above all, a tablet with an inscription indicating the location of the remains of Sor Juana Inés de La Cruz.

The monastery was abandoned again until Luis Echeverría and José López Portillo, both presidents between 1971 and 1979, ordered its reconstruction. Thanks to them, the temple has the UNESCO World Heritage designation.

The San Jerónimo convent has the following structure:

• The Mother Superior, who is in charge of the Eucharist. She must be over 40 years old.
• The Vicar, the right hand of the Mother Superior, who is responsible for organising all the events of the Hieronymites. She was responsible for the strict supervision of the dormitories, including the hours of waking and sleeping. She also had to keep the accounts so that they could be settled at the end of the month.
• The gatekeepers, whose job it was to open and close the monastery. In most cases, this role was given to older women.

 

• The tomeras, who kept track of visits to the nuns. In other words, they were messengers who delivered letters and correspondence.
• The vicars of the choir, who were responsible for controlling and supervising the nuns’ attendance in the choir.
• The mistresses, who had to be mature and prudent women in order to command respect.
• The nurse, in charge of the medical department of the temple.

The villa of Saint Jerome

The house of St Jerome is located near the convent. The Mother Superior lives there. It is designed to accommodate the lay ministers who come to visit the majestic church. The large house also has a large banner of St Jerome in the immense hall.

 

Convent of San Jerónimo in Seville

The convent of San Jerónimo was founded in 1414 by Diego Martínez. Like the convent of San Jerónimo, its members came from families linked to the Spanish aristocracy or nobility. In the same year, Martínez and the Bishop of Seville founded a Hieronymite convent. The infrastructure was entirely Gothic in style.

With the help of the monks, a chapel was built next to the convent and a staircase with the image of Saint Jerome was erected. With the advent of the printing press in Seville, they were able to publish a small magazine, written by the monks themselves, with brief reviews of Christian events. The Catholic Monarchs were so pleased with the temple’s structure that they visited it eight times between 1477 and 1502.

In 1511, King Ferdinand married his second wife in the monastery of San Jeronimo. Another very important visit was that of Charles I to arrange his marriage to Queen Isabella. In 1503, a hospital was founded in conjunction with the cathedral to care for the sick Hieronymites or monks, as well as the general public.

The convent was closed for a long period to be rebuilt. It was not until the 16th century that Juan de Herrera carried out work on the towers, which had fallen into disrepair. The figure of San Jerónimo on the banner has been appreciated and declared a patrimony by the Museum of Fine Arts.

Penitent Saint Jerome

This is a work of sculpture created by Pietro Torrigiano in the 16th century. The bust was sculpted on a pure clay base and was used to decorate the convent of San Jerónimo in Seville.

It is worth noting that the use of clay to make sculptures was very popular in Seville in the 16th and 17th centuries. Torrigiano used one of the monks as a model for his work. It is said that Goya, an artist of great renown, visited the church on several occasions to see the penitent Saint Jerome.

The purpose of the work is to represent the body of an old man in all its splendour, kneeling and holding a cross in one of his hands. In itself, it is a scene of mortification, as he is beating himself with it.

San Jeronimo Mission in Queretaro

The San Jeronimo Mission in Queretaro is a residential complex where houses or apartments are rented to parishioners who wish to venerate the saint in the church or convent of San Jeronimo, located in the Aztec country.

Saint Jerome Caravaggio

Michelangelo da Caravaggio produced one of his last works as an artist, called Saint Jerome Writing or Saint Jerome Meditating. Caravaggio enjoyed renewed success with this painting, which was very well received in museums and galleries.

Its iconography shows a learned man studying and writing. The painting also depicts a skull as a symbol that life is fleeting and ends suddenly.

St Jerome and feminist pedagogy

St Jerome served as a spiritual teacher to a group of upper class women or ladies of the Roman Congregation. He introduced women to the study of Scripture. He had the joy of sharing this with Paula of Rome, the mother of his friend Eustochius. St Jerome instilled in a society the need to abandon vanity and to do charitable works.

It was not all plain sailing for St Jerome in the education of women, as he was accused of slander by the Roman clergy. The saint defended himself by saying that his relationship with Paula of Rome served to clarify the work of the Vulgate. St Jerome helped Damasus I to organise an anthology of canonical books on the New and Old Testaments, called the Decree of Damasus.

St Jerome and his philosophical thought

St Jerome’s philosophical style was very clear: to love the Holy Scriptures above all things, because through them every Christian receives absolution for his sins. The saint encouraged his followers to pursue his aims and, above all, to carry out research in order to promote the growth of theologians and religious scholars.

Saint Jerome Rosary

The novena or rosary of Saint Jerome begins on the 21st of September and ends on the 30th, the day of his patron saint. In the Monastery of San Jerónimo el Real, this rosary is open to all who wish to participate.

Blessed Saint Jerome

Blessed are you forever, O Saint Jerome, you who made known to all Christians the designs written in the Bible, I ask you to bless me forever and ever. In heaven you were received with infinite applause for all the works you have done on earth. I want to be your exemplary servant, so that I may know how to interpret every word written by God.

Saint Jerome

St Jerome is the great saint and protector of the Catholic Church and its monasteries and convents. It is thanks to him that his greatest work, the Vulgate, a new and improved translation of the Bible, became known. He also helped hundreds of women to follow the path of righteousness and led them to take the holy habit.

Masses of St Jerome

Masses in honour of St Jerome are celebrated on 30 September in Santa Fe, Paraguay; Madrid, Spain; and Mexico City. These are followed by a solemn procession through the main streets to pay tribute to one of the great philosophers of the Christian world.