Who is Saint Jerome, the Saint of September 30th and how to pray to him

On Thursday 30 September the church celebrates San Girolamo.

Girolamo, born in Stridone in Dalmatia in 347 from a Christian family, reveals from an early age an independent and passionate character, together with an extraordinary memory and acute intelligence.

His teacher is the famous rhetorician Aelius Diodorus and his fellow disciple Rufino of Aquileia.

In Rome, Pope Damasor instructs him to translate the original texts of Sacred Scripture into Latin so as to make reading them accessible to the faithful in liturgical assemblies.

His Bible, known as the vernacular, has since been the official text, guaranteed by the authority of the Church. On 30 September 420 he presented himself to his Lord, repeating his heartfelt prayer: "Forgive me, Lord, because I am Dalmatian!". To the Church, which he had loved so much, he left the priceless treasure of his writings.

PRAYER TO SAN GIROLAMO

            O glorioso San Girolamo,

            per quell’amabile zelo che ti condusse allo studio profondo

            delle sacre scritture conferendoti tanta luce;


            per quello spirito di sacrificio e di mortificazione,

            per le pratiche di pietà e per le più edificanti virtù

            per renderti sempre più utile alla Chiesa cattolica;

            e per tutti i Divini favori di cui puoi disporre in cielo;

            sii protettore benevolo ed ottieni a noi tutti

            la grazia di meditare continuamente la verità della fede,

            di non cercare mai sulla terra che essere graditi a Dio,

            e di infervorarci sempre più negli esercizi

            della penitenza e delle buone opere,

            per assicurarci la nostra eterna salvezza. 

            Amen

            Tre Gloria al Padre.