For obvious and very good reasons, Pope Francis’ latest encyclical Fratelli Tutti will garner the attention of the Church for the foreseeable future. Lest, however, we overlook another recent papal document, it is worth reflecting on a particular section of a letter issued by Francis to mark the 1600th anniversary of the death of St Jerome: Scripturae Sacrae Affectus. Dated 30th September, in the letter, the Pope recounts the life and achievements of the man who single-handedly produced the Latin Vulgate translation from the best original sources available at that time, and which became the reference point for all other translations in the Catholic Church for centuries.

Pope Francis notes how, “Jerome succeeded in ‘inculturating’ the Bible in the Latin language and culture. His work became a permanent paradigm for the missionary activity of the Church.” This is an essential part of the Pope’s own cherished aim, expressed from the outset of his pontificate, to have a church that consists in “missionary disciples”. He goes on, quoting from Evangelii Gaudium, “Whenever a community receives the message of salvation, the Holy Spirit enriches its culture with the transforming power of the Gospel.” (E.G. §116) The interaction brought about by the meeting of the two cultures helps to develop a new one rooted in the Gospel. 

(Extract from a review on Scripturae Sacrae Affectus by Fr. Sean E. Hall, St Mary’s Presbytery, Forest Hall, October 2020.)

Read the entire review here