September 29 — Dedication of Saint Michael

The glorious Archangel appears to-day at the head of the heavenly army: There was a great battle in heaven, Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon fought and his angels. 1 In the sixth century, the dedication of the churches of St. Michael on Monte Gtargano and in the Roman Circus increased the celebrity of this day, which had however been long before consecrated by Borne to the memory of all the heavenly Virtues.

The east commemorates on the sixth of September an apparition of the victorious Prince at Chone 2 in Phrygia; while the eighth of November is their solemnity of the angels, corresponding to our feast of to-day, and bearing the title: 'Synaxis of Saint Michael prince of the heavenly host, and of the other spiritual Powers.' Although the term synaxk is usually applied only to religious assemblies here on earth, we are informed that in this instanoe it also signifies the gathering of the faithful angels at the cry of their chief, and their union eternally sealed by their victory. 3

Who, then, are these heavenly Powers, whose mysterious combat heads the first page of history ? Their existence is attested by the traditions of all nations as well as by the authority of holy Scripture.

1 Apoc. xii. 7. 2 The ancient CoIosssb. 3 Menolog. BatUiu

THE ARCHANGEL

(277)

TIME AFTER PHKTBC08T

If we oonsult the Ohuroh, she teaohes us that in the beginning God created simultaneously two natures, the spiritual and the corporal, and afterwards man who is composed of both. 1 The scale of nature descends by gradation from beings made to the likeness of God, to the very oonfines of nothingness ; and bpr the same degrees the oreature mounts upwards to his Creator. God is infinite being, infinite intelligence, infinite love. The oreature is for ever finite: but man, endowed with a reasoning intelleot, and the angel, with an intuitive grasp of truth, are ever, by a oontinual prooess of purification, widening the bounds of their imperfect nature, in order to reach, by inorease of light, the perfection of greater love.

God alone is simple with that unchangeable productive simplicity, which is absolute perfection exoluding the possibility of progress ; He is pure Act, in whom substanoe, power, and operation are one thing. The angel, though entirely independent of matter, is yet subject to the natural weakness neoessary to a created being ; he is not absolutely simple, for in him action is distinct from power, and power from essence. 3 How much greater is the weakness of man's composite nature, unable to carry on the operations of the intellect without the aid of the senses !

1 Compared with ours/ says one of the most enlightened brethren of the angelio dootor, ' how oalm and how luminous is the knowledge of pure spirits ! They are not doomed to the intrioate disooursings of our reason, which runs after the truth, oomposes and analyzes, and laboriously draws conclusions from premisses. They instantaneously apprehend the whole compass of primary truths. Their intuition is so prompt, so lively, so penetrating, that it is

1 GoneU. Later an. iv. cap. Fir miter, 2 Thorn. Aquin. Summ. Theol. i. q. liy. art. 1-3.

SAINT MICHAEL

27§ impossible for them to be surprised, as we are, into error. If they deoeive themselves, it must be of their own will. The perfection of their will is equal to the perfection of their intellect. They know not what it is to be disturbed by the violenoe of appetites. Their love is without emotion ; and their hatred of evil is as calm and as wisely tempered as their love. A will so free can know no perplexity as to its aims, no inconstanoy in its resolutions. Whereas with us long and anxious meditation is neoessary before we make a decision, it is the property of the angels to determine by a single act the object of their choioe. God proposed to them, as He does to us, infinite beatitude in the vision of His own Essence ; and to fit them for so great an end, He endowed them with graoe at the same time as He gave them being. In one instant they said Yes or No ; in one instant they freely and deliberately decided their own fate.' 1

Let us not be envious. By nature the angel is superior to us ; but, to which of the angels hath He said at any time, ' Thou art My Son P'* The only-begotten Son of God did not take to Himself the angelic nature. When on earth, He acknowledged the temporary subordination of humanity to those pure spirits, and deigned to receive from them, even as do His brethren in the flesh, the announcements of the divine will, 3 and help and strength. 4 But ' God hath not subjected unto angels the world to oome,' says the apostle. 5 How can we understand this attraction of God towards what is feeblest? We can only worship it in humble, loving faith. It was Lucifer's stumbling-block on the day of the great battle in heaven. But the faithful angels

1 Monsabre" 15th Conference, Lent 1875. 2 Heb. i. 6 ; ex Ps. ii. 7. * Dionys. Areop. De ceelesti hierarchia, iv. 4 ; $% Matt, ii. 13-16,

19-21.

4 St. Luke xxii. 43.

6 Heb. ii, 6. prostrated themselves iu joyous adoration at the feet of the Infant-God foreshown to them enthroned on Mary's knee, and then rose up to sing: * Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peaoe to men of good will.'

0 Christ, my Christ as St. Denis oalls Thee, 1 the Church to-day delightedly proclaims Thee the beauty of the holy angels. 3 Thou, the God-Man, art the lofty height whenoe purity, light, and love flow down upon the triple hierarchy of the nine ohoirs. Thou art the supreme Hieraroh, the oentre of worlds, controller of the deif ving mysteries at the eternal feast.

Flaming Seraphim, glittering Cherubim, steadfast Thrones, oourt of honour to the Most High, and possessed of the noblest inheritance: aooording to the Areopagite, ye receive your justioe, your splendour, and your burning love by direct communication from our Lord: 3 and through you, all graoe overflows from Him upon the holy city.

Dominations, Virtues, and Powers ; sovereign disposers, prime movers, and rulers of the universe: in whose name do ye govern the world P Doubtless in His whose inheritance it is ; in the name of the King of glory, the Man-God, the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord of hosts.

Angels, Arohangels, and Principalities; heaven's messengers, ambassadors, and overseers here below: are ye not also, as the apostle says, ministers of the salvation wrought on earth by Jesus, the heavenly High-Priest?

We also, through this same Jesus, 0 most holy Trinity, glorify Thee, together with the three prinoely hierarchies, whioh surround Thy Majesty with their nine immaterial rings as with a many-circled rampart.

1 Dionys. Be ealesti hierarchia, ii. 5. 2 Hymn of Lauds.

8 Dionys. ubi supra, yii. 2.

SAtNT MICHAEL

To tend to Thee, and to draw all things to Thee, is their common law. Purification, illumination, union: by these three ways in succession, or simultaneously, are these noble beings attraoted to God, and by the same they attract those who strive to emulate them. Sublime spirits, it is with your gaze ever fixed on high that ye influenoe those below and around you. Draw plentifully, both for yourselves and for us, from the central fires of the Divinity ; purify us from more than the involuntary infirmities of nature; enlighten us ; kindle us with your heavenly flames. For the same reason that satan hates us, ye love us: protect the race of the Word made Flesh against the common enemy. So guard us, that we may hereafter be worthy to occupy among you the places left vacant by the viotims of pride.

Adam of St. Victor thus sings the fullness of to-day's mystery.

SEQUENCE

Laus erumpat ex affectu, Psallat chorus in conspectu

Supernorum civium: Laus jocunda, laus decora, Quando laudi concanora

Puritas est cordium.

Michaelem cuncti laudent, Nec ab hujus se defraudent

Diei laetitia: Felix dies qua sanctorum Recensetur angelorum

Solemnis victoria. Draco vetus exturbatur Et draconis effugatur

Inimica legio:

Let love break forth into praise; let our choir sing in presence of the heavenly citizens: our praise will be pleasing and beautiful, if the purity of our hearts be in accord therewith.

Let all praise Michael; let none deprive himself of this day's joy. O happy day! whereon the solemn victory of the holy angels is recorded.

The old dragon is cast out, and all his hostile legions put to flight: the disturber is him-

TlltB AWEE PttNTBOOST

Exturbatus est turbator Et projectus accusator

A coeli fastigio. Sab tatela Michaelia Pax in terra, pax in ccelis,

Laos et jnbilatio: Com sit potens hie virtute, Pro communi starts salute,

Triumphat in pralio.

Snggestor sceleris,

Pulsus a superis,

Per hujus aeris

Oberrat spatia:

Dolifl invigilat,

"Virus insibilat,

Sed hunc annihilat

Praesens custodia. Tres distinctsB hierarchies Jugi vacant theories

Jugique psallentio: Nec obsistit theoria Sive jugis harmonia

Jugi ministerio.

O quam mirae caritatis Est supernas civitatis

Ter terna distinctio: Quae nos amat et tuetur, Ut ex nobis restauretur

Ejus diminutio.

Sicut sunt hominum

Divisae gratiaa,

Sic erunt ordinum

Distinctae glorias

Justis in pramio:

Solis est alia

Quam lunae dignitas,

Stellarum varia

Relucit claritas:

Sic resurrectio. Vetua homo novitati, self disturbed, the accuser is hurled down from the height of heaven.

Under Michael's protection there is peace on earth, peace in heaven, praise and exultation; for he, mighty and valorous, stands for the safety of all and triumphs in the battle.

Banished from heaven, the originator of sin wanders through the air: he watches to lay his snares, and insinuates his poison; but the guardian band of angels reduces his power to nought.

The three distinct hierarchies are ever occupied in contemplation and unending song; nor does their contemplation nor their ceaseless harmony interrupt their continual ministry.

Oh! in the heavenly city how wondrous is the charity of the three tripled choirs; they love us and defend us, and hope to see their ranks filled up by us.

As among men there are divers graces upon earth, so in the heavenly reward the just will receive divers degrees of glory; other is the excellence of the sun, other that of the moon, and various the brightness of the stars; so shall be the resurrection.

Let the old man be brought

^itized byLjOOQle

SAINT MICHAEL

Se terrenus puritati

Conformet coelestium: Cosequalis his futurus, Licet nondum plene purus, Spe prsesumat prsemium.

Ut ab ipsis adjuvemur, Hos devote veneremur

Instantes obsequio:

Deo nos conciliat

Angelisque sociat

Sincera devotio.

De secretis reticentes

Interim coelestibus, Erigamus puras mentes

In coelum cum manibus: Ut superna nos dignetur

Cohaeredes curia, Et divina collaudetur

Ab utrisque gratia.

Capiti sit gloria Membrisque concordia. Amen. into conformity with the new, the earthly to the purity of the heavenly citizens; he is one day to be equal to them, and though not yet wholly pure, let him in hope look forward to the prize.

That we may be assisted by these blessed spirits, let us devoutly venerate them and be untiring in our homage; sincere devotion reconciles to God and unites us with the angels.

Meanwhile let us be silent as to the secrets of heaven, and lift up pure minds and spotless hands on high:

Thus may the most high senate recognize us as coheirs; and may the divine grace be praised alike by angels and men.

To our divine Head be glory and among his members union. Amen.

234 tltffe AFTER ?£NfBCOS±

September 30

PRIEST CONFE880R AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH

'I know not Vitalis, I reiect Meletius, I pass by Paulinus ; 1 he that oleaveth to the Chair of Peter, he is mine.' 2 Thus, about the year 376, when the whole east was disturbed by the competitions for the episcopal See of Antioch, wrote an unknown monk to Pope St. Damasus. It was St. Jerome, a native of Dalmatia, who implored * light for his soul redeemed by the Blood of our Lord.' 8

Far from Stridonium, his semi-barbarous native plaoe, whose austerity and vigour he never lost ; far from Rome, where the study of literature and philosophy had not had sufficient ascendency to withhold him from the seduotions of pleasure ; the fear of God's judgments had led him into the desert of Chalcis. There, under a burning sky, in the oompany of wild beasts, he for four years tormented his body with fearful macerations ; and then, as a yet more efficacious remedy, and certainly a more meritorious mortification for one passionately fond of olassical beauties, he sacrificed his oioeronian tastes to the study of the Hebrew language. Suoh an undertaking was far more laborious then than in our days of lexicons and grammars and scientific works of every description. Many a time was Jerome disoouraged and almost in despair. But he had learnt the truth

1 Hieron. Eptit. xv. al. Mi. ad Damas.

2 JSpwt. xri. aL lviii. 3 Ibid. of the maxim he afterwards inouloated to others: ' Love the science of the Scriptures, and you will not love the vices of the flesh. 1 So he took up his Hebrew alphabet again, and continued to spell those * hissing and panting syllables' 2 until he had so mastered them as even to spoil his pronunciation of Latin. 8 For the rest of his life, all the energy of his spirited nature was spent upon this labour. 4

God amply repaid the homage thus rendered to His sacred word: Jerome hoped to obtain by his toil the cure of his moral sickness ; he moreover attained the lofty holiness that we now admire in him. Other heroes of the desert remain unknown: Jerome was one of those to whom it is said: * Tou are the salt of the earth ; you are the light of the world 9 ; and God willed that in due time this light should be set upon a oandlestick that it might shine to all that are in the house. 5

The once brilliant student returned to Rome an altered man ; for his holiness, learning, and humility, he was declared by all to be worthy of the episoopal dignity. 6 Pope Damasus, the virgin doctor of the virgin Churoh, 7 commissioned him to answer, in his name, the consultations sent from east and west; 8 and caused him to begin, by the revision of the Latin new Testament upon the original Greek text, those great scriptural works, which have immortalized his name and entitled him to the undying gratitude of the Christian world. Meanwhile Helvidius dared to call in question the perpetual virginity of the Mother of God: Jerome's refutation revealed that talent for

1 Epist. cxxv. al. iv. ad Busticum. 2 Ibid. 8 Epist. xxix. al. cxxx. ad Marcellam. * JEpist. cviii. al. xxvii, ad Eustochium.

6 St. Matt. v. 13, 14, 15. 8 Hieron. Epist. xlv. al. xcix. ad

Asellam. 7 Epist. xlviii. al. 1. ad Pammachium.

8 Epiit. oxxiii. al. xi. ad Ageruchiam.

TIME AFTEB PENTECOST polemios, of which Jovinian, Vigilantius, Pelagius, and others, were also to feel the force. Mary rewarded him for thus avenging her honour, by bringing to him a number of holy souls, whom he was to lead in the paths of virtue, and instruct in the mysteries of holy Scripture.

Here was a phenomenon inexplicable to the infidel historian: at the very time when the Borne of the Oeesars was perishing, suddenly around this Dalmatian were gathered the fairest names of ancient Borne. They were thought to have died out, when the lower classes made themselves supreme ; but at the critical moment, when Borne was to rise again purified from the flames kindled by the barbarians, they reappeared to olaim their birthright and refound the city for its true eternal destiny. The combat was of a new kind ; but they were at the head of the army that was to save the world. Four oenturies earlier, the apostle had said there were not many wise, and powerful, and noble ; Jerome declared that, in his day, they were numerous, 'numerous among the monks.' 1

The monastic) army in the west was, at its origin, chiefly recruited from the patrioians, whose oharaoter of anoient grandeur it ever afterwards retained ; its ranks included noble virgins and widows ; and sometimes husband and wife would enlist together. Marcella was the first to inaugurate the monastic life at Rome, in her palace on the Aventine. She obtained St. Jerome's direction for her privileged community ; but after his departure, she herself was consulted by all, as an oraole, on the difficulties of holy Scripture. 2 She was joined in her retreat by Furia, Fabiola, and Paula, worthy descendants of Gamillus, of the Fabii, and of the Scipios. But the

1 JBpist. lxvi. a/, xxvi. ad Pammachium, 2 SpUt. cxxvii. a/, xvi. adPrmCi old enemy oould ill brook such losses to his power: Jerome must be foroed to leave Rome.

A pretext was soon found for raising a storm. The Treatise on Virginity addressed to St. Paula's daughter Eustochium, and written in Jerome's fearless and pointed style, evoked the animosity of false monks, foolish virgins, and unworthy olerios. 1 In vain did the prudent Marcella prediot the tempest: Jerome would make bold to write what others dared to praotise. 2 But he had not reckoned on the death of rope Damasus at that very juncture ; an event for which the ignorant and the envious had been waiting, in order to give full vent to their stifled hatred. 8 Driven away by the storm, the lover of justice returned to the desert; not this time to Chalcis, but to the peaceful Bethlehem, whither the sweet recollection 01 our Saviour's infancy attracted followed him, in order not to forgo the lessons they prized above all else in the world; their presence was a consolation to him in his exile, and an encouragement to continue his labours. All honour to these valiant women ! To their fidelity, their thirst for knowledge, their pious importunities, the world is indebted for a priceless treasure, viz: the authentio translation 4 of the saored Books, whioh was necessitated by the imperf eotions of the old Italio Version and its numberless variations, as also by the f aot that the Jews were accusing the Ohuroh of falsifying the Soripture. 5

6 raula and Eustoohium, may the labours of my poor life be pleasing to you, useful to the Ohuroh,

1 Epist. xxii. ad Eustochium, de eustodia virginitatis.

3 Epist. xxvii. al. cxx. ad Marcellam. 8 Prof, vertionis Didymi de Spiritu JSancto ; Epist. xlv. al. xcix. ad Aselkm.

4 Cone. Trid. Sess. iv.

6 JJier. Fraf. in fraiam, ad faulqm $t Eustochium,

Paula and her daughter soon and worthy of posterity ; as for contemporaries, I oare but little for their judgment.' 1 So said the holy solitary ; yet he felt the envious attacks of his bitter enemies more keenly than he would own to himself. ' Handmaids of Christ/ he said, * shield me with the buokler of your prayers from those who malign me.'* Every book he translated brought upon him fresh criticisms, and those not only from enemies. There were the timid, who were alarmed for the authority of the Septuagint, so sacred both to the Synagogue and to the Church; 8 there were the possessors of precious manuscripts, written on purple vellum and adorned with splendid uncials, and with letters of silver and gold, all which would now lose their value. 1 Well, let them keep their precious metal, and leave us our poor papers,' 4 cried Jerome exasperated. ' Ajad yet, it is you,' he said to the fair inspirers of his works, ' who force me to endure all this folly and all these injuries ; to put an end to the evil, it were better you enjoined silence on me.' 5 But neither the mother nor the daughter would hear of such a thing, and Jerome yielded to constraint. Finding that the text of his first revision of the Psalter upon the Greek Septuagint 6 had become oorrupted through careless transcriptions, they induced him to undertake a second. 7 This version is inserted in our present Vulgate, together with his translation of the other Books of the old Testament from Hebrew or Chaldaic. 8 In all these works the saint appealed to Paula and Eustoohium as guarantees of his exactitude, and begged them to oollate his translations word for word with the original. 9

1 Prof , in Daniel. 2 Prcef. in Reg. 3 Aug. ad Hieron.

Epist. lyi al. lxxxvi. * Hier. Prof, in Job. ad easdem.

' 6 Trcef. in Jerem. 6 Psalt. rom. 7 Psalt. gall.

Hier. Ptaf. in Pealmos. » Except Baruch, Wisdom,

Ecclesiasticus, Machabees, and a few fragments, retained from the old Italic, * 9 Hier. Prcef. in Esther,

All his old friends in Borne took part in this learned intercourse. Jerome refused to none the light of his knowledge, and pleasantly excused himself for giving one half of the human race a preference over the other: 'Principia, my daughter in Jesus Christ, I know that some find fault with me for writing to women ; let me say, then, to these detractors: If men questioned me on the Scripture, they should receive my answers.' 1

There was great joy in the monasteries at Bethlehem when news arrived that another Paula was horn in Rome. Eustochium's brother had married Lrata, the Christian daughter of the pagan pontiff Albinus. They had vowed their child to God before her birth ; and now they rejoiced to hear her lisp into the ear of the priest of Jupiter the Christian Alleluia. On hearing of her grandmother beyond the seas, and of her aunt consecrated to God, the little one would beg to go and join them. * Send her,' wrote Jerome delightedly, * I will be her master and foster-father ; I will carry her on my old shoulders ; I will help her lisping lips to form her words ; and I shall be prouder than Aristotle ; for he indeed educated a king of Macedon, but I shall be preparing for Christ a handmaid, a bride, a queen predestined to a throne in heaven.' 2 The child was, in faot, sent to Bethlehem, where she was destined to solace the last hours of the aged saint, and to assume, while yet very young, the responsibility of carrying on the work of her holy relatives.

But Jerome had still more to suffer, before leaving this world. The elder Paula was the first to be called away, singing: * I have chosen to be an abject in the house of my God, rather than to dwell in the

1 Epiat. lxv. al. oxl. ad Prineipi m. . 3 Epitt. cvii. al. vii. ad Zatam. tabernacles of sinners/ 1 So great a langour then took possession of 'St. Jerome, that it seemed his end was approaching. 2 jEustoohium, though brokenhearted, repressed her tears, and implored him to live and fulfil his promises to her mother. He therefore aroused himself, finished his translations, 8 and took up again his commentaries on the text. He had completed Isaias, 4 and was engaged upon Ezeohiel, when the most awful oalamity of those times oame upon the world: 'Rome is fallen; the light of the earth is extinguished; in that one city the whole universe has perished. What oan we do, but hold ourpeaoe and think upon the dead?'

He had, however, to think about the living also, for numberless fugitives, destitute of all things, made their way to the holy places ; and the uncompromising wrestler was all tenderness to these unfortunates. Loving the practice of the holy Scripture no less than its teaching, he spent his days in discharging the duties of hospitality. In spite of his failing sight, he gave the night hours to his dear studies, wherein he forgot the troubles of the day, and rejoioed to fulfil the desires of the spiritual daughter God had given him. The prefaoes to his fourteen books on Ezeohiel bear witness to the share taken by the virgin of Christ in this work undertaken despite the misfortunes of the times, his own infirmities, and his last controversies with heretics. 5

Heresy seemed indeed to be profiting of the troubled state of the world, to rise up with renewed audacity. The Pelagians, supported by bishop John of Jerusalem, assembled one night with torches and swords, and set fire to the monastery of St. Jerome, and to that of the saored virgins then governed by

1 Ps. lxxxiii. 11. Hier. Epist. cviii. al. xxvii. ad Eustochium.

2 Epist. xcix. al. xxxi. ad Theophilum. 3 Prof, in Josue, Jud. tt #uth< * Comment, in Isaiqm, 6 Comment, in Ewh* i. Prolog.

Eustoohium. Manfully seconded by her nieoe Paula the younger, the saint rallied her terrified daughters, and they escaped together through the midst of the flames. But the anxiety of that terrible night was too much for her already exhausted strength. Jerome laid her to rest beside her mother, near the orib of the Infant God ; and leaving his commentary on Jeremias unfinished, he prepared himself to die. The following is the liturgical acoount of his life.

Hieronymus, Eusebii Alius, Stridone in Dalmatia Constantio imperatore natus, Romae adolescens est baptizatus, et in liberalibus disciplinis a Donato et aliis viris doctissimis eruditus. Turn discendi studio Galliam peragravit: ubi pios aliquot, et in divinis litteris eruditos viros coluit, multosque sacros libros sua manu descripsit. Mox se in Grseciam conferens, philosophia et eloquentia instructus, summorum theologorum consuetudine floruit: in primis vero Gregorio Nazianzeno Constantinopoli operam dedit: quo doctore se sacras litteras didicisse profitetur. Turn religionis causa visit Christi Domini incunabula, totamque lustravit Palaestinam: quam peregrinationem, adhibitis Hebraeorum eruditissimis, ad sacrse Scripturae intelligentiara sibi multum profuisse testatur.

Jerome, son of Eusebius, was born at Stridonium in Dalmatia, during the reign of the emperor Constantius. He was baptized at Rome while still young, and was instructed in the liberal arts by Donatus and other learned men. His love of knowledge led him to travel in Gaul, where he made the acquaintance of several pious men learned in divinity, and copied many sacred books with his own hand. He then proceeded to Greece, to study eloquence and philosophy. Here he won the friendship of some great theologians ; in particular of Gregory Nazianzen, under whom he studied at Constantinople, and whom he calls his master in sacred learning. Drawn by religious motives, he visited the crib of Christ our Lord, and the whole of Palestine; and he tells us that this pilgrimage, made in the company of some learned Jews, was of the greatest service to him for the understanding of holy Scripture,

Deinde secessit in v as tarn Syrias solitudinem: ubi quadriennium in lectione divinorum librorum, coelestisque beatitudinis contemplatione consumpsit, assidua se abstinentia, vi lacrymarum, et corporis afflictatione discrucians. Presbyter a Paulino episcopo Antiochias factus, Romam de controversiis quorumdam episcoporum cum Paulino et Epiphanio ad Damasum Pontificem profectus, ejus ecclesiasticis epistolis scribendis adjutor fuit. Verum cum pristinaB solitudinis desiderio teneretur, in Palasstinam reversus, Bethlehem ad Christi Domini praesepe in monasterio, quod a Paula Romana extructum erat, coelestem quamdam vitas rationem instituit: et quamquam varie morbis doloribusque tentaretur, tamen corporis incommoda piis laboribus et perpetua lectione ac scriptione superabat.

Tamquam ad oraculum, ex omnibus terras partibus, ad ipsum divines Scrip turae quaBstiones explicandae referebantur. Ilium Damasus Pontifex, ilium sanctus Augustinus de locis Scriptures difficillimis saspe consuluit, propter ejus singularem doctrinam, et linguas non solum Latinas et Grraecas, sed Hebraicae etiam et Chal-

After this Jerome retired into the lonely desert of Syria, where he spent four years in reading the holy Scripture, and in the contemplation of heavenly beatitude, afflicting his body by abstinence, weeping, and every kind of penance. He was ordained priest by Paulinus, bishop of Antioch; in whose company and that of Epiphanius, he came to Borne, to settle the disputes that had arisen between certain bishops. Here Pope Damasus engaged him to assist in writing his ecclesiastical letters. But yearning for his former solitude, he returned to Palestine, and settled at Bethlehem in a monastery built by the Roman lady Paula, near our Lord*s crib. Here he led a heavenly life; and though much afflicted with sickness and sufferings he devoted himself, in spite of his bodily weakness, to works of piety and to ceaseless study and writing.

From all parts of the world he was referred to as an oracle for the decision of questions concerning the sacred Scriptures. Pope Damasus and St. Augustine often consulted him on difficult passages of holy Writ, on account of his remarkable learning and his knowledge not only of Latin and Greek but also of Hebrew and Chaldaic. According to

SAINT JEROMfi daicae intelligentiam: et quod omnes pene scriptores, ejusdem Augustini testimonio, legerat. Hsereticos acerrimis scriptis exagitavit: piorum et catholicorum patrocinium semper suscepit. Vetus Testamentum ex Hebraeo convertit: novum, jussu Damasi, Greecae fidei reddidit, magna etiam ex parte explicavit. Multa prsBterea Latine reddidit scripta doctorum virorum, et ipse aliis proprii ingenii monumentis Christianam disciplinam illustravit. Qui ad summam senectutem perveniens, sanctitate et doctrina illustris, Honorio imperatore migravit in coelum. Cujus corpus ad Bethlehem sepultum, postea Romam in basilicam sanctae Marias ad Praesepe translatum est.

St. Augustine, he had read almost every author. In his writings he severely censured heretics; but always lent his support to faithful Catholics. He translated the old Testament from the Hebrew; and at the command of Pope Damasus, revised the new Testament, collating it with the Greek; he also commented the greater part of holy Scripture. Besides this, he translated into Latin the writings of many learned men, and enriched Christian science with other works from his own pen. At length, having reached extreme old age, and being renowned for learning and holiness, he passed to heaven in the reign of Honorius. His body was buried at Bethlehem; but was afterwards translated to Borne and laid in the basilica of St. Mary ad Prmepe.

Thou completest, 0 illustrious saint, the brilliant constellation of doctors in the heavens of holy Church. The latest stars are now rising on the sacred oycle ; the dawn of the eternal day is at hand ; the Sun of justice will soon shine down upon the valley of judgment. 0 model of penance, teach us that holy fear, which restrains from sin, or repairs its ravages ; guide us along the rugged path of expiation. Historian of great monks, 1 thyself a monk and father of the solitaries attracted like thee to Bethlehem by the sweetness of the divine Infant, keep up the spirit of labour and prayer in the monastic Order, of which

1 St. Paul the Hermit, St. Hilarion, St. Malchus. several families have adopted thy name. Soourge of heretics, attaoh us firmly to the Roman faith. Watohful guardian of Christ's flook, protect us against wolves, and preserve us from hirelings. Avenger of Mary's honour, obtain for our sinful world that the angelic virtue may flourish more and more.

0 Jerome, thy special glory is a participation in the power of the Lamb to open the mysterious Book; the key of David was given to thee to unclose the many seals of holy Scripture and to show us Jesus concealed beneath the letter. 1 The Church, therefore, sings thy praises to-day, and presents thee to her children as the official interpreter of the inspired writings which guide her to her eternal destiny. Aooept her homage and the gratitude of her sons. May our Lord, by thy intercession, renew in us the respect and love due to His divine word. May thy merits obtain for the world other holy doctors, and learned interpreters of the sacred Books. But let them bear in mind the spirit of reverence and prayer with whioh they must hear the voioe of Gk>d in order to understand. God will have His word obeyed, not disoussed ; although, among the various interpretations of whioh that divine word is susoeptible, it is lawful, under the guidanoe of the Church, to seek out the true one ; and it is praise-worthy to be ever sounding the depths of beauty hidden in that august dootrine. Happy is he who follows thy footsteps in these holy studies ! Thou didst say: * To live in the midst of suoh treasures, to be wholly engrossed in them, to know and to seek nothing else, is it not to dwell already more in heaven than on earth ? Let us learn in time that scienoe whioh will endure for ever.' 1

1 Hier. Epist. liii. al. oiii. ad Paulinum. * Ibid.