St. Jerome Novena
Contents
Show HideSt. Jerome was a priest and monk who lived in the 300s-400s. He is known for translating almost all of the Bible into Latin. He was also significant because of his teachings on Christian morality. He was named a Doctor of the Church.
You can use this novena to seek intercession from this holy priest in your life!
About St. Jerome
St. Jerome was born around the year 342, as Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus, in an area of modern day Croatia or Slovenia. His parents were most likely wealthy. Little else is known about Jerome’s childhood, except that a famous Roman grammarian instructed him in Latin and Greek.
When Jerome was around twelve years old, he went to Rome. There, he studied grammar, rhetoric, and philosophy. During this time, he forgot the morality of his upbringing and pursued worldly pleasure. Feeling deep guilt over this, he frequently visited the Roman crypts and imagined himself in hell.
Jerome’s companion Bosonus was a Christian. Bosonus’ influence helped persuade Jerome to renounce his worldly ways and become a Christian. After Jerome was baptized, he became interested in theology. He traveled with Bosonus, in search of a place to study.
Jerome ended up studying in a monastery that was overseen by St. Valerian. Jerome met a monk named Rufinis, who was skilled at Greek-to-Latin translation. Jerome and Rufinis became friends, as Jerome worked to improve his own translation skills.
Jerome soon began translating books. In 374, he arrived in Antioch. Here, he wrote his first work, “Concerning the Seven Beatings.”
Around this time, Jerome contracted an illness. He began to have visions and became more devoutly religious. He lived as a hermit for some time. When he left his hermitage, Church officials in Antioch and even the Pope asked him to become a priest. Jerome preferred the life of a hermit, but he agreed to be ordained on the condition that he could continue his monastic living.
Soon, Jerome traveled to Constantinople. There, he studied theology under St. Gregory of Nazianus. After this, Jerome went to Rome for a Church council. Pope Damascus then made Jerome his secretary. While serving as the Pope’s secretary, Jerome began his famous translation of the Bible into Latin.
During this time, Jerome also preached asceticism to everyone around him. A group of Roman women pursuing holiness were among those who listened to him.
After the Pope died in 384, Jerome was met with criticism and controversy. Some critics of Jerome who had remained quiet during the Pope’s life now loudly condemned Jerome and falsely accused him of impropriety with one of the women.
Jerome soon returned to Antioch. He worked hard on theological writings and defending the Faith against heresy. He continued his great work of translating the Bible into Latin.
Jerome died peacefully in 420.
St. Jerome’s Feast Day: September 30th
Why Pray the St. Jerome Novena?
St. Jerome is the patron saint of translators. You can ask him to pray for you if you are a translator, or you can ask him to pray for a translator whom you know.
St. Jerome is also the patron saint of librarians and Biblical scholars. You can ask for his intercession if you are a librarian or a Biblical scholar. Or you can ask him to intercede for a librarian or Biblical scholar whom you know.
Additionally, St. Jerome is the patron saint of archeologists. You can ask for his prayers if you are an archeologist, or you can ask him to pray for an archeologist whom you know.
You can pray the St. Jerome Novena for any intention!
St. Jerome Novena Prayers
St. Jerome Novena - Day 1
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Jerome as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You he showed after his conversion as a young man.
St. Jerome, you were a gifted student as a young man. Though you spent a lot of your youth pursuing worldly pleasures, you eventually renounced your worldly ways and chose to devote yourself to God.
Please bring my petitions before God Whom you chose to serve!
After your conversion, you devoted yourself to studying theology and to pursuing spiritual things. You repented of your past, and you went on to become an influential Biblical scholar and theologian.
Pray for me, that I may always be eager to learn more about God. Pray that I may be ready to devote myself to Him anew each day.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Jerome, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Jerome Novena - Day 2
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Jerome as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the devotion to You he grew in under the influence of his Christian friend.
St. Jerome, you devoted yourself to pursuing worldly pleasure for a lot of your youth. But your Christian friend Bosonus helped you to find your way to the Christian Faith.
Please bring my petitions before the throne of God!
You chose to be baptized and to renounce your worldly ways. After you were baptized, you became interested in theology and began studying at a monastery.
Pray for me, that I may have the benefit of holy friends to assist me on the path to holiness. Pray that I may always be ready to renounce sin and to repent of the wrong I have done.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Jerome, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Jerome Novena - Day 3
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Jerome as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You he showed in his many years of work as a theologian.
St. Jerome, you eagerly pursued the study of theology after your conversion. You studied in a monastery overseen by St. Valerian. You worked to serve God through the study of Him and His Word.
Please bring my petitions before God Whom you served so eagerly!
You did a lot of important work for the Church through your study and your writings. You worked hard on theological writings and on defending the Faith against heresy.
Pray for me, that I may always be eager to learn more about God at every opportunity. Pray that I may never miss the opportunity to help others learn more about God.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Jerome, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Jerome Novena - Day 4
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Jerome as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the devotion to You he showed through his years of faithfully living out the monastic life.
St. Jerome, you studied in a monastery shortly after your conversion. Later, you began living as a hermit so that you could devote yourself wholeheartedly to serving God.
Please bring my petitions before God Whom you served so wholeheartedly!
Church officials and even the Pope wanted you to be ordained a priest. You were reluctant to do this because you felt called to continue serving God in the monastic life. You agreed to be ordained on the condition that you could continue living monastically.
Pray for me, that I may serve God with wholehearted devotion, as you did. Pray that I may never waver in my devotion to God.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Jerome, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Jerome Novena - Day 5
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Jerome as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the virtue he showed in his openness to Your will in his life.
St. Jerome, you responded to the promptings of the Holy Spirit when you decided to convert and be baptized as a young man. You continued living your life with an openness to God’s call.
Please continue to bring my petitions before the throne of God!
When the Pope and other Church officials asked you to be ordained a priest, you were reluctant to do this because you felt called to monastic living. You were able to carry out your call to monasticism and become a priest.
Pray for me, that I may always be open to following God’s will in my life. Pray that I may always be eager to serve God in whatever ways He calls me to.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Jerome, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Jerome Novena - Day 6
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Jerome as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the devotion to You he showed through his many years of penitential living.
St. Jerome, you spent many years living penitentially as a hermit. Even when you were presented with the opportunity to become a priest, you were eager to continue serving God in the penitential way of life as a hermit.
Please bring my petitions before God Whom you served so eagerly!
You preached about the need for asceticism during your time serving as the Pope’s secretary. You helped lead many others closer to God by preaching about the need for penance in their lives.
Pray for me, that I may grow in a holy spirit of penance each day. Pray that I may be as devoted to God as you were.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Jerome, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Jerome Novena - Day 7
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Jerome as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate his love of You that never wavered, even when he was falsely accused of impurity.
St. Jerome, your preaching on asceticism during your time in Rome attracted many followers to you. Among them was a widow who grew to great holiness under your faithful direction.
Please continue to bring my petitions before God Whom you served so faithfully!
After Pope Damascus died, many of your critics began to criticize you and condemn you. Though they falsely accused you of impurity with the holy widow you directed, you never wavered in your Faith.
Pray for me, that I may be strong in my Faith even amidst great trials. Pray that I may never waver in my commitment to God.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Jerome, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Jerome Novena - Day 8
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Jerome as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the devotion to You he showed through his many years of faithful work studying and translating the Bible.
St. Jerome, you began translating the Bible into Latin during your time serving as secretary to Pope Damascus. You devoted a lot of your life to this work, out of love for God.
Please bring my petitions before God Whom you served so lovingly!
You were later recognized as a Doctor of the Church. Your many years of faithful work studying and translating the Bible yielded a lot of good fruit for the Church.
Pray for me, that I may be eager to learn more about God through the study of His holy Word. Pray that I may eagerly devote my time and energy to God, as you did.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Jerome, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Jerome Novena - Day 9
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Jerome as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You he showed through his many years of devoted service to Your Church.
St. Jerome, you were eager to study God and to devote yourself to Him after your conversion to Christianity. You studied Him faithfully for many years and wrote many important theological works.
Please bring my petitions before God with such faithfulness!
You became a priest and continued living an ascetic way of life as a hermit. You served as the Pope’s secretary, and you spent years translating the Bible.
Pray for me, that I may devote my life to serving God and His Church as faithfully as you did. Pray that I may be eager to devote my life wholly to God.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Jerome, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.