St. Jerome, after his conversion in 366, dedicated himself to theological studies, learning Greek and Hebrew. He translated significant religious texts and became Pope Damasus’s secretary. After facing criticism, Jerome left Rome and settled in Bethlehem, continuing his scholarly work until his death in 420. His most notable contribution was translating the Bible into Latin, creating the Vulgate. Jerome emphasized the importance of understanding the original scriptures, famously teaching that “ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.”
