(347-419) Eusebius Hieronymous Sophronius, now commonly known as Saint Jerome, was born in modern-day Croatia to a Christian family and grew up primarily in Rome. He had a bit of a wild youth surrounded by temptation, but accompanied by his constant draw to the Christian life. He lived as a hermit for years in Syria, where he was devoted to his studies. Jerome learned Hebrew and studied with Jewish Rabbis. He became a priest and eventually secretary to Pope Damascus, who commissioned him to translate the Bible into the common language of Latin. Jerome spent fifteen years very carefully producing this historic translation.
One of the strongest ways, as Catholics, to seek “through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God” (Step 11) is reading Sacred Scripture. To know God more leads us to love God more, which enables us to trust God more (Steps 2 and 3). We meet Him face to face in Sacred Scripture, especially in the Gospels. Do you make reading the Bible a daily part of your recovery program?
“Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ” (Saint Jerome).
Reflection by Brad Farmer