Jerome's Tears: Letters to Friends in Mourning

by David G. Bonagura Jr.

The mystery of death strikes at the core of the human soul. We instinctively recoil at the pain of losing loved ones, and as we grapple, we are quick to seek remedies to console ourselves. There is no one better suited to assuage our grief than the translator of the Bible, St. Jerome (ca. 347–420). This book presents ― for the first time in English ― a fresh translation of seven of his most moving letters that sought to soothe his friends who suffered the loss of spouses, children, relatives, and loved ones. You will be struck by the relevance of St. Jerome’s words to your experiences of grief today. You will learn how to find peace after the death of a dear one as St. Jerome, with palpable emotion, points to the hope promised in Christ’s Resurrection. You’ll also learn to transform your loss into a new opportunity to follow the Lord more closely through deeper Christian living, a union that St. Jerome explains powerfully to his friends. This book begins with an introduction that presents the challenge of providing solace to the suffering along with a summary of St. Jerome’s long life and of his theology of consolation. Each of the seven letters is contextualized with a brief paragraph about the people and the situation at hand as well as key themes for the contemporary reader’s focus. These precious letters reveal the compassionate heart of this enigmatic and eminent Church Father. By reflecting on the words that he used to hearten his spiritual children, you will be comforted in your own grief and fortified to support others in theirs. In these invaluable letters, you will
St. Jerome also encourages those who remain in their grief to consider the blessings they received from the lives of their loved ones and to look forward to a happy eternity together with them in Heaven. After reading his letters, you will never think of death in the same way again.

128 pages, Paperback

Published October 17, 2023

Reviews

[Christopher Febles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got a lot from Bonagura’s latest: a history lesson, a contemplative Catholic treatise, and thoughts on death and dying.

St. Jerome’s always been a mystery to me, more legend than real. But Bonagura opens with a down-to-earth, easy-to-understand biography of the man, one that paints him as a human being with extraordinary achievements. You’d never think saints have personalities, but this wonderful description says otherwise. I also liked the look at the early Church.

That sets up a great framework for understanding these letters: the consolation letter was something of a tradition in Jerome’s time, but how he engaged in it was remarkable. I’m sure translations are hard enough, but writing them with modern-day sentiments must require both technical skill and tremendous humanity. Close reading will help the reader connect with Jerome’s thoughts on leaving behind a legacy, serving the poor, and living a meaningful life.

Thus, being a Catholic scholar isn’t required, nor even having experienced the recent death of a loved one. Bonagura deftly calls forth Jerome’s sense of cura personalis, his message of love as the pathway to happiness, a message that’s rung true for centuries. Great for both dedicated Catholics and anyone wishing to learn more about human nature.

Thank you to Sophia Publishing and the author himself (a close colleague) for a free copy in exchange for my honest review.