September 30th, 2004, Memorial of St. Jerome, priest and doctor of the church.

A reading from the book of Job.

One day, when the angels of God came to present themselves before the Lord, Satan also came among them.

And the Lord said to Satan,

Whence do you come? Then Satan answered the Lord and said, From roaming the earth and

patrolling it? And the Lord said to Satan, Have you noticed my servant Job? And that there is no

one on earth like him, blameless and upright,

fearing God and avoiding evil.

But Satan answered the Lord and said,

Is it for nothing that Job is God-fearing?

Have you not surrounded him and his family and all that he has with your protection?

You have blessed the work of his hands,

and his livestock are spread over the land. But now, put forth your hand and touch anything that he

has, and surely he will blaspheme you to your face. And the Lord said to Satan,

Behold, all that he has is in your power.

Only do not lay a hand upon his person.

So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.

And so one day, while his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their eldest brother,

a messenger came to Job and said,

The oxen were plowing and the asses grazing beside them, and the Sabians carried them off in a raid.

They put the herdsmen to the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.

Well, he was yet speaking, another came and said,

...