St. Jerome Quotes

Powerful St. Jerome for Daily Growth

About St. Jerome

Saint Jerome (Latin: Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus; c. 347 – September 30/October 4, 420), a prominent early Christian scholar, is renowned for his translation of the Bible into Latin, the Vulgate, which remains the standard Latin text in the Roman Catholic Church. Born in Stridon (present-day Slovenia), Jerome's education began at Rome, where he studied rhetoric and Greek. He later moved to Constantinople for further studies in Greek and became a proficient linguist, acquiring fluency in Hebrew as well. In 373, Jerome converted to Christianity, becoming a disciple of Saint Paula and her son Eustochius. The trio established a monastery-like community at Bethlehem, Palestine. Jerome was known for his erudition and strong personality. He quarreled with several contemporaries including the influential bishop John Chrysostom. His penchant for controversy earned him many enemies within the Church hierarchy, yet he remained committed to scholarly pursuits. In 382, Jerome began translating the Bible from original languages into Latin, a project that took almost two decades. The Vulgate (meaning 'common version') has significantly influenced Western Christianity and served as the basis for Roman Catholic liturgy. Other major works by Jerome include "Adversus Jovinianum" (Against Jovinian), addressing issues of asceticism and marriage, and "Commentarii in Isaiam Prophetam" (Commentary on the Book of Isaiah). Apart from his scholarly pursuits, Jerome was a devoted ascetic, living frugally and meditating regularly. He is remembered for his humility, diligence, and unwavering dedication to Scripture study, making him an iconic figure in Christian scholarship. St. Jerome's legacy continues to endure as a model of religious learning and piety within the Christian tradition.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ."

This quote emphasizes that understanding the Bible (Scripture) is essential to knowing about Jesus Christ. As Jesus is the central figure in Christianity, learning from His teachings, actions, and prophecies within the Bible helps one gain a deeper appreciation and knowledge of Him, thus enriching their spiritual journey.

"Adversity is the state in which man most truly lives."

This quote by St. Jerome suggests that adversity or difficult times are a significant part of human life, where one's true character and resilience are tested. These challenging periods can reveal our inner strength, teach valuable lessons, foster personal growth, and ultimately shape who we become as individuals. In other words, adversity provides an opportunity for us to live more authentically, learn about ourselves, and develop coping mechanisms that prepare us for future challenges.

"The first truth, the greatest truth, is that Christ died for us."

This quote by St. Jerome underscores the central belief in Christianity: Jesus Christ sacrificed His life for humanity's redemption. Essentially, it emphasizes that the most profound and fundamental truth about the Christian faith is the act of Jesus Christ's death, which was undertaken willingly to atone for human sins, thus offering salvation and eternal life to all believers.

"Happy the one whose sins remain, when he dies, on his lips."

This quote by St. Jerome suggests that a person who has confessed their sins and sought forgiveness before death, ensuring they die with a clean conscience, will be blessed or considered fortunate. The idea is that the peace of a clear conscience brings happiness, as the burden of guilt is lifted, enabling eternal salvation in religious beliefs.

"It is written: 'Man shall not live by bread alone,' but man lives also by every word that comes from the mouth of God."

This quote by St. Jerome emphasizes that while physical sustenance (bread) is essential for human life, spiritual nourishment (the Word of God) holds equal importance. It suggests that a balanced existence involves both material and spiritual well-being. In other words, our lives should not solely rely on worldly matters but also draw strength from the divine guidance provided by Scripture or divine wisdom.

The scars of others should teach us caution.

- St. Jerome

Teach, Caution, Should, Scars

I am like the sick sheep that strays from the rest of the flock. Unless the Good Shepherd takes me on His shoulders and carries me back to His fold, my steps will falter, and in the very effort of rising, my feet will give way.

- St. Jerome

Shoulders, Flock, Very, Fold

My native land is a slave of heathenism, men's god is their belly, and they live only for the present. The richer a man, the holier.

- St. Jerome

Slave, Belly, Native Land, Native

Beauty when unadorned is adorned the most.

- St. Jerome

Beauty, Most, Adorned

Action without a name, a 'who' attached to it, is meaningless.

- St. Jerome

Action, Name, Meaningless, Attached

I am that prodigal son who wasted all the portion entrusted to me by my father. But I have not yet fallen at my father's knees. I have not yet begun to put away from me the enticements of my former riotous living.

- St. Jerome

Living, Away, Prodigal, Former

Someone may ask, 'How is justice greater than all the other virtues?' The other virtues gratify the one who possesses them; justice does not give pleasure to the one possessing it, but instead pleases others.

- St. Jerome

Give, Other, May, Possesses

Catch, then, O catch the transient hour; Improve each moment as it flies!

- St. Jerome

Improve, Flies, Hour, Transient

Love is not to be purchased, and affection has no price.

- St. Jerome

Love, Price, Purchased, Affection

Let your daughter have first of all the book of Psalms for holiness of heart, and be instructed in the Proverbs of Solomon for her godly life.

- St. Jerome

Book, Proverbs, Your, Solomon

It is not enough for us to restrain from doing evil, unless we shall also do good.

- St. Jerome

Doing, Shall, Unless, Restrain

A friend is long sought, hardly found, and with difficulty kept.

- St. Jerome

Friend, Difficulty, Found, Hardly

True friendship ought never to conceal what it thinks.

- St. Jerome

Friendship, Never, Conceal, Ought

Being over seventy is like being engaged in a war. All our friends are going or gone and we survive amongst the dead and the dying as on a battlefield.

- St. Jerome

Survive, Over, Engaged, Battlefield

Haste is of the Devil.

- St. Jerome

Devil, Haste

Be ever engaged, so that whenever the devil calls he may find you occupied.

- St. Jerome

Engaged, Ever, Whenever, Occupied

The face is the mirror of the mind, and eyes without speaking confess the secrets of the heart.

- St. Jerome

Mind, Face, Confess, Secrets

Virginity can be lost by a thought.

- St. Jerome

Lost, Thought, Virginity

A fat stomach never breeds fine thoughts.

- St. Jerome

Thoughts, Never, Fine, Breeds

They talk like angels but they live like men.

- St. Jerome

Men, Talk, Like, Angels

Those who persevere in sin are those who are held in abhorrence by God, but those who abandon the ways of sin are loved by the Lord.

- St. Jerome

Persevere, Ways, Abhorrence, Sin

Act as if the maxim of your action were to become through your will a be general natural law.

- St. Jerome

Through, Act, General, Action

Keep doing some kind of work, that the devil may always find you employed.

- St. Jerome

Doing, Some, Always, Devil

What good is speed if the brain has oozed out on the way.

- St. Jerome

Good, Speed, Way, Brain

Marriage is good for those who are afraid to sleep alone at night.

- St. Jerome

Marriage, Alone, Sleep, Who

The friendship that can cease has never been real.

- St. Jerome

Friendship, Never, Been, Real

Why do you not practice what you preach.

- St. Jerome

Practice, You, Why, Preach

Good, better, best. Never let it rest. 'Til your good is better and your better is best.

- St. Jerome

Motivational, Never, Better, Rest

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