Born around 342 AD to well-to-do Christian parents who tried to raise him properly, Jerome chose instead to follow his own pursuits.
 
Around the age of 12, Jerome traveled to Rome to study but he quickly forgot his morals and decided to pursue pleasure, especially women. Since he knew his behavior was wrong, he would alleviate the feelings of guilt by visiting the crypts in Rome every Sunday and imagining himself in hell. Although he succeeded in frightening himself, he would not change his ways.
 
Fortunately, Jerome had a Christian friend, Bonosus, who persuaded Jerome to become a Christian and change his ways for the better. Around this time, Jerome began to travel, study, and translate books for his own use, translation being a skill he learned from his "guilt trips" to the Roman catacombs. 
 
During his stay in Antioch, a disease made Jerome ill and killed some of his companions. After his illness, he lived as a hermit in the desert for four years and suffered from many diseases. After leaving the desert, he was ordained a priest and went to Constantinople where he met and became friends with Saint Gregory of Nazianzus. He then traveled to Rome and began work on his translation of the Bible known as the "Vulgate".
 
After the death of Pope Damasus, Jerome's position in Rome became difficult. His harsh criticisms and sarcastic temper had made him bitter enemies, who tried to slander and ruin him. After a few months he was compelled to leave. By way of Antioch and Alexandria he reached Bethlehem, where he lived in the cave believed to have been the birthplace of Christ. Henceforth he led a life of asceticism and study; Saint Augustine said of him, “What Jerome is ignorant of, no mortal has ever known.” He died there peacefully on September 30, 420.
 
This print is part of the "Happy Saint" collection by Anna Morelli.
 
The image is professionally printed, hand-signed by the artist, and comes enclosed in a plastic sleeve to ensure protection.