On the Feast of Jerome

From the Book of Common Prayer:

O Lord, O God of truth, your Word is a lantern to our feet and a light upon our path: We give you thanks for your servant Jerome, and those who, following in his steps, have labored to render the Holy Scriptures in the language of the people; and we pray that your Holy Spirit will overshadow us as we read the written Word, and that Christ, the living Word, will transform us according to your righteous will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Today is the Feast of Saint Jerome. A day to celebrate a faithful servant, and a day to poke a finger in the eye of Jack Chick, who in his insane hatred of all things Catholic, has chosen to vilify one who desired to bring the Word of God into the language of his countrymen.

Jerome was born to Christian parents in AD 340, in the regions of contemporary Slovenia or Croatia. In his early adulthood, it was clear the the LORD was calling Jerome based on his own account and he soon entered into Theological studies as he traveled through the crumbling Roman Empire.

In the waning years of the fourth century, Jerome receive his ordination through Paulinus of Antioch, then found his way to Constantinople where he became a pupil of Gregory of Naziatus. As he matured in the faith and in his calling, Jerome levied a major critique against Pelagius and emergent Pelagianism. Adding to this Saint Jerome levied major criticism against the Origensim of John II of Jerusalem.

Funny, hardly the villan of Chickensian lore. Anyhoo, enjoy your Wednesday and consider the blessing of having God's Word in your native tongue.