Letter to a Young Minister
Jerome
April 1, 1984
Jerome (345-420), along with Augustine, Ambrose, and Gregory, was one of the four "Doctors of the Latin Church." Although he didn't write original theology like Augustine, nor champion the faith as vigorously as Ambrose, nor organize the church with the zeal of Gregory, Jerome's influence outlasted theirs, because he was the author of the Vulgate translation of the Latin Bible, the Bible of Western Christendom until the Reformation. Jerome also had a great interest in the clergy of his day and spent much of his time defining their duties. Following are adapted excerpts from a very long letter he wrote to a novice who had given up the military life for clerical garb. Written in 394, the letter is a systematic treatise on the life a minister should lead. It became very popular among the clergy of that period. As a clergyman, you must first understand what the name means. When you realize this, you must personify it. Klergos means "inheritance." The clergy are thus called because the Lord himself is their inheritance. They say with the prophet, "The Lord is my inheritance, my prize. He is my food and drink" (Ps. 16:5) and hold to nothing except the Lord. * * Read the divine Scriptures constantly. Never let the sacred volume be out of your hand. You must first learn what you must teach to others. As Paul said, "Their belief in the truth which they have been taught must be strong and steadfast, so that they will be able to teach it to others and show those who disagree with them where they are wrong" (Titus 1:9). Don't let your deeds belie your words. Don't let one of your listeners mentally reply, "Why don't you practice what you preach! Your stomach is full and you read us a homily on fasting. A robber may as well accuse us of ...
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