David Bonagura: The beauty of St. Jerome

Respect Life Radio

“St. Jerome is best known for compiling the Latin edition of the Bible, called the Vulgate, and rightly so,” said David G. Bonagura, Jr., an adjunct professor of classical languages at St. Joseph's Seminary, New York, and adjunct professor of theology at Catholic Distance University. He serves as Religion Editor of The University Bookman, the flagship publication of the Russell Kirk Center. He is the 2023-2024 Cardinal Newman Society Fellow for Eucharistic Education. “He is also known for a famous quotation: ‘Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.’ But there is more to St. Jerome than this. We have 123 of his letters, written in a style equivalent to the modern essay, on a variety of topics. His letters of consolation stand out as some of the greatest examples of Latin prose and of pastoral care." The book contains seven letters written by St. Jerome from the years 389–412. In addition to translating the letters, Mr. Bonagura wrote an extended introduction to St. Jerome’s life, work, and thought. He also wrote a brief paragraph before each letter identifying the deceased, the bereaved, and the context.

Learn more about Mr. Bonagura's new book from Sophia Institute Press at Jerome’s Tears: Letters to Friends in Mourning and find out more about Mr. Bonagura at https://www.davidgbonagurajr.com