Saint Jerome loved the Word of God – and he wanted you to love it too. He gave his life as priest to translating the Bible for future generations and explaining it. Living in the 4th century, he moved from Rome to the Holy Land and settled down for the mammoth task of translating the entire Bible from Hebrew and Greek into Latin.
His translation, called the Vulgate, has served as the standard text of the Holy Scriptures in Latin to this day! A hugely important work, a work of love – really for all Mankind!
Like the Scribe Ezra, he knew that, truly, the Word of God is the WORD OF LIFE FOR HUMANITY!
In the first reading today we hear of an important celebration of the Word of God led by Ezra that took place 140 years after the destruction of Jerusalem. In 586 BC Jerusalem fell and was destroyed by the King of Babylon.
Jeremiah, Isaiah, and other prophets made it very clear that this happened because the people did not listen to the Word of God. Their idolatry, corruption and injustice resulted in their destruction. However, through Jeremiah, God promised to begin the reconstruction of Jerusalem 70 years later.
Thus it happened, and what we hear today is the completion of this reconstruction. It is a moment for a great call and a promise by all to fidelity to the Word of God.
The Word of God is, in the first place, a PERSON! Jesus, the Living Word, who will finally come in fulness 450 years after these events.
How are we to come to love and follow the Word of God, the Living Word? Through this past millennium Our Lady has given us this great tool, this great gift, the Rosary to PRAY and come to know the Word of God. Saint John Paul II called the Rosary the Gospel Made Prayer, and so it is.
Praying the Rosary, parents lead their children to love the Word of God as they meditate on the life of Christ.
The month of October starts tomorrow: “Rosary Month”. The Church renews her devotion, understanding and commitment to pray the Holy Rosary. It’s really Mary’s school of prayer, to lead us to love the Word of God!
Join us in Family Rosary as we celebrate Rosary month! This year, when Pope Francis has called us to deepen our friendship with Saint Joseph, we’ll be asking him to lead us in this School of Mary, his beloved spouse! Join us for Rosary Month on familyrosary.org and our Family Rosary Facebook page!
Mother Mary and Saint Joseph, lead us to love the Word of God.
