St Jerome, great Biblical scholar, is shown in the painting below, by Domenico Ghirlandaio, working on his translation of the Scriptures into Latin, which we know as the (old) Vulgate. He is renowned as a great ascetic, but his face here is irradiated by a great gentleness, as if working on the Scriptures themselves has wrought an effect.

He said: ‘Martyrdom does not consist only in dying for one’s faith. Martyrdom also consists in serving God with love and purity of heart every day of one’s life’.

May we indeed pursue this great endeavour, of serving God with love and purity of heart all our days, and may He bless you in all that you undertake in His Name.