The Common Tongue

30 Sep

Let this be written for the generation to come,
and let his future creatures praise the Lord:
“The Lord looked down from his holy height,
from heaven he beheld the earth,
To hear the groaning of the prisoners,
to release those doomed to die.”  (Ps 102:19-21)

When we hear the world “vulgar”, we usually think “dirty language”.  However, it really means “coming from the common tongue”.

St. Jerome, whose feast we celebrate today, was known for many things in his day and age.  Probably the best, most important thing, however, was the fact that he translated the Bible into the common language of the people: the Vulgate edition of the Bible.

Because of this, more people were able to read about the stories of redemption and the great deeds of the Old Testament prophets and the New Testament saint.  They were able to understand what Jesus did for them and be more ready to accept His gift of salvation.

We are called to be people of the common tongue as well.  In today’s vocabulary, in today’s culture, in today’s understanding, we are called to bring Jesus into our world.

Let us write in our hearts and in our actions that the Lord heard the plight of His people and came down from on high in order to set us free!

FAITH ACTION:  As plain as you can this day, speak of the Lord so that others may come to know Him.