Saint Jerome (; ; ; c. 347 – 30 September 420) was a
priest,
confessor, theologian and historian, who also became a
Doctor of the Church. He was the son of Eusebius, born at
Stridon, a village near
Emona on the border of
Dalmatia and
Pannonia, then part of northeastern
Italy. He is best known for his translation of most of the
Bible into
Latin (the translation that became known as the
Vulgate), and his commentaries on the
Gospels. His list of writings is extensive. The protégé of
Pope Damasus I, who died in December of 384, Jerome was known for his teachings on Christian moral life, especially to those living in cosmopolitan centers such as Rome. In many cases, he focused his attention to the lives of women and identified how a woman devoted to
Jesus Christ should live her life. This focus stemmed from his close patron relationships with several prominent female ascetics who were members of affluent
senatorial families.