Bethlehem, 380 AD. Rumors ripped through Rome like wildfire, threatening to destroy Jerome's reputation. Rather than fight the vicious gossip, Jerome flees seeking peace in the Holy Land. But his work is far from over. The Latin translation of the Gospel's complete, Jerome now turns to an even greater challenge. Translate the Old Testament from the original Hebrew. Will this bold task unify the Church, or will it only incite fiercer opposition from Jerome's many enemies? David, my apprentice, I need to dictate a letter. Are you ready? I'm ready to write, Master Jerome. Start writing. To my dear sisters in Christ, Paula, Eustochium, Marcella, and those who seek wisdom in the word. Yes, got it. You must wonder why I left Rome so suddenly. I could not remain to fight gossip. Scandalous accusations. False and columnist suggestions. Are you still dictating, Master, or just talking? Just write all I say. But here, in Bethlehem, where Christ the Word became flesh, I'll begin a new task. In a lonely cave near the Church of the Nativity, I'm pursuing my life's greatest work. Greater than translating the Gospels from Greek to Latin? The Gospels were just the beginning, David. Continue with this. Now, I will translate the Old Testament directly from the original Hebrew into Latin. Latin translations vary widely and are often defective. Therefore, I'll consult the Hebrew originals and produce an accurate Latin version as they were first composed. Can you please repeat all that? I really miss my female students. I'm sorry, Master Jerome. It's all right, David. It's just I miss the way we debated, the way they challenged me. I could challenge you. You'd better not. Write this. The world may gossip and accuse, but God knows the truth of our hearts. That's beautiful. Then hurry up and write it. Shalom, Joseph. Jerome, I did not expect you. Did you miss your best student? I did. I did. But you look pale, Jerome. Are you spending all of your hours in that cave? Do you even see the sun anymore? I have plenty of work, Joseph. And in fact, I need your help. I require a deeper understanding of the Hebrew from my translation of the Old Testament into Latin. Are you still working on that? It will make you even more enemies, Jerome. Enemies I'm used to. But your opponents in Rome are powerful. They are eager to discredit you, to destroy your reputation. Why do you want to agitate them? Heresies keep on emerging, Joseph. The Arians, the Pelagians, the Antidekomerians, their lies are killing the souls they seduce. And the Jewish scribes mock us. They say we rely on corrupted translations, that our arguments are built on sand. And as a converted Jew, you know they have a point. I can't stop this work now. Jerome, if you continue, some bishops might feel their authority challenged and... What's that noise? A lion. Come, Jerome. Hide with me here. Easy. Easy. Jerome, run for your life. I believe he's hurt, Joseph. There's... a thorn in his paw. So what? Like Christ himself, the Lion of Judah, suffering from thorns. Be still, my friend. There. The thorn is gone. This is... this is... A sign. What? I'm grateful for all you've taught me, Joseph. But I need a tutor to help me unlock the true depth of the Hebrew Scriptures in Latin. This translation is the weapon we need to confront the truth. Hérises and lies to unify the Church. We can invite souls into an encounter with the living God. You want to continue learning Hebrew? Now more than ever. Jerome. Joseph, come in. Jerome, this is Bar Ananias, a good friend. He is willing to help you with your Hebrew translation. Shalom. Jerome. Shalom, Bar Ananias. I am deeply grateful for your willingness to assist me. There is one condition. Bar Ananias must come here only at night, in darkness. No one must know I am assisting a Christian scholar. Like Nicodemus, who came to Jesus by night, I understand. And I am even more grateful. Bar Ananias knows the sacred tongue better than anyone. He will enrich your translation beyond measure. You honor me with your wisdom, Bar Ananias. I brought my scrolls. Let us begin. Jerome's enemies are spreading rumors and discrediting his Old Testament translation. They say it's better to continue using previous texts, even if they're imprecise. But he's doing this so the church can have a clearer understanding of God's word. A more accurate translation will strengthen our worship and draw us into a more profound encounter with God. How can they not see the immense good this will bring? Eustochium, my child. Do not let grief cloud your faith. But I miss him, mother. I miss his lessons, his wisdom. Hush, child. Tears won't change minds, but prayer will. Let us pray together. We should. Yes. We will ask God to protect his work, to guide his hands. We will. We will ask for guidance. There must be a way to support Jerome, to defend his work. But how, Paula? We are widows. And our resources are useless when our voices are limited. Our voices are heard by God. And God can move mountains. Let us begin. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done. On earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen. Amen. Va yomer Elohim, ye hee oor, va ye hee oor. And God said, Let there be light, and there was light. Master Jerome, sorry to interrupt you, but you have visitors from Rome. From Rome? Well, I didn't invite anyone, so tell them I'm busy. I told them so, but they insisted to see you. Fine, I'll see them. Paula, you stoke him to Rome. We've come to see you. We've missed you so much. My dear sisters, my dear children, how? Why? We've come to support you. The Lord has answered beyond my prayers. You're not alone, Master. We are with you in this. It's so good to see you. We have discussed this at length, Jerome. We wish to offer you substantial financial support. Paula, that is most generous, but… We want you to establish a monastery for men, a separate community for women at a school, open to all who seek knowledge of the scriptures. Your generosity overwhelms me, Paula, but Rome already criticizes your devotion as excessive. Jerome, God is my witness that what I do, I do it for His sake. My prayer is that I may die a beggar and leave all my fortune in God's hands. Your faith, I am speechless. We will build something that endures Jerome, not stone walls, but souls formed in truth. Then let it be so. In Principio Creavit Deus Chai'lin et Therum, and the Spirit of God was hovering through the first world. Greeks, Syrians, Armenians, even pilgrims from as far as Gaul, all coming to study the word of God in our school, Paula. And yet many arrive exhausted with no where proper to rest. We should build a hospice for pilgrims here, beside our school. Another project, Paula. Should Mary and Joseph visit Bethlehem again, they would have a place to stay. Paula, you see the scriptures not just with your mind, but with your heart. The scriptures live not only in words, but in the Holy Land itself. Indeed. Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Galilee. The gospel becomes real here for pilgrims. The customs, the landscape, even the light itself, they place us in the world of the sacred texts. The Holy Land is the fifth gospel. Then let's build a place of welcome, a place where the gospel can be experienced. Yes, let's do that, Paula. Just as the spirit was hovering over the waters in Genesis. Ah, like a foreshadow of the baptism? Yes, you're right. Excuse me, do you know where I might find Master Jerome? At this hour, you'll find a mother fountain. Jerome of Striden, have you finally learned to rest? Buenosus, my dear friend, welcome. Ha, ha, ha. Has my old friend finally decided to travel beyond Rome? I had to see this with my own eyes. They told me your school is flourished, but I never imagined this. So they remember me in Rome. You are hard to forget. Jerome, your school is extraordinary. I see Romans, Persians, Ethiopians, and Greeks, all of them praising God. Their languages differ, but their faith is one. Let all the nations sing your praise, O Lord. You have changed, Jerome. You're still the brilliant mind I knew as a youth, but… but you're different now. More likable. I was the sick sheep that strayed from the rest of the flock, but the good shepherd took me on his shoulders and carried me back to his fold. And I also have to thank you, Buenosus. Thank me? You were very patient with me, even when I was… Jerome, please. I've known you since we were young boys. You're like a brother to me. That's true, Buenosus. We are brothers in Christ. Praise the Lord, for he is our most loyal and faithful friend. Amen. Come, Buenosus. Let me introduce you to Paula, Eustochium, and more of my students and friends. Jerome, the one solitary scholar who scorned all but books, has truly found his truest friends in Christ. Jerome labored over the Old Testament translations in a cave near Bethlehem for 23 years, dying at 73 after a lifetime of devotion. His monumental Latin Bible, the Vulgate, faced fierce criticism and found little acceptance in his day. Over 1100 years later, the Council of Trent declared the Vulgate the authentic and authoritative Latin text. This is the translation of the Bible that was written This is the translation of the Bible that our own English Bibles are based on. Without his work, we would not have the Bible we have today. Jerome's commentaries and translation work shape theology for generations, profoundly impacting millions of spiritual lives. St. Jerome, pray for us. Hi, this is Peter Atkinson from The Mary Beggars. Thank you for listening to The Saints. To listen to more thrilling adventures, go to thesaintspodcast.com. 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