JEROME, SAINT

Jerome, Saint: translation

(Eusebius Hieronymous Sophronius; c. 342-420)

One of the Latin Doctors of the Church. Born in Dalmatia to a wealthy pagan family, St. Jerome went toRometo acquire an education and there he was baptized by Pope Liberius in 360. A vision of Christ convinced him to settle in the Syrian Desert where for four years he engaged in fasting, prayer, meditation, and the study of the Hebrew language. This is the subject ofAndrea del Castagno'sVision of St.Jerome(c. 1454-1455) in the Church of Santisima Annunziata,Florence, where the saint is shown as an as-cetic character who beats his chest with a rock, the vision of Christ above him, the lion whose thorn he removed at his side, and his followers Sts.Paola and Eustochium bearing witness to the event. When Jerome emerged from the desert, he went to Antioch where he was ordained by St. Paulinus. His newly acquired knowledge allowed him to translate the Bible from the true Hebrew version into Latin, which theCouncil of Trentdeclared to be the official Vulgate of the Catholic Church. It remained as such until 1979 when Pope John Paul II replaced it with the New Vulgate. As a result of the Tridentine council's declaration, St. Jerome became one of the preferred subjects ofBaroqueart.George de La Tourrendered thePenitent St.Jerome(1628-1630; Stockholm, Nationalmuseum) on one knee, his whip in one hand, hiscrucifixin the other, and his ecclesiastic vestments prominently displayed.Jusepe de Ribera(1626; Naples, Museo Nazionale di Capodimonte) andSimon VouetpaintedSt.Jerome and the Angel of Judgment(c. 1625; Washington, National Gallery) where the saint (and the viewer) is reminded of theLast Judgmentand transience of life.Agostino Carracci(c. 1592-1593;Bologna, Pinacoteca Nazionale) andDomenichino(1614; Vatican, Pinacoteca) rendered theLast Communion of St.Jeromewhere he is administered the last rites.