Saint of the Day – 17 August – St Jeroen of Noordwijk (c800- 856) Priest Martyr, Missionary. Born around 800 in Scotland or Ireland and died on 17 August 856 in Noordwijk, Holland by being beheaded by pagan Vikings. Patronage – the finding of lost articles, of Noordwijk. Also known as – Gerone, Hiero, Hieron, Iero, Ieron, Jeroen van Noordwijk, Jéron Noordwijk. Additional Memorial – 3rd Sunday in August in Noordwijk a St Jeroen celebration known as the ‘St Jeroen Sleep Walk’ and on the 1st Sunday in September, his Patronage of Noordwijk (and of lost articles) is celebrated there.
Jeroen was born around 800 as the son of a prominent nobleman in Scotland (or Ireland). As a young man, however, he chose a life as a Priest and Monk. Together with other Benedictine Monks, he crossed the North Sea to preach Christianity on the mainland. In 851, Jeroen settled as a shephjerd of souls in Noordwijk, Holland.
In August 856, Noordwijk was attacked by the Norsemen during one of their raids. Jeroen was captured and tortured. The next day, a chieftain of the Norsemen demanded that Jeroen renounce his faith and sacrifice to the Germanic gods. When Jeroen refused, he was sentenced to death and beheaded.
After the Normans had disappeared, his body was buried in the utmost secrecy by his followers.
A Church was built above the spot where Jeroen’s decapitated body was found. Around 1300, a skull was found in this building during an excavation. The skull was immediately attributed to St Jeroen. The Church bells began to ring spontaneously at the moment of the discovery, what further proof was needed! A man who suffered from epilepsy was immediately cured after touching the skull.
Jeroen’s head was placed in the Church and became an object of great veneration. In 1429, the Bishop of Utrecht elevated the village of Noordwijk to a place of pilgrimage for those seeking the intercession of Saint Jeroen in all their troubles and ailments.
As a result of the Reformation, Noordwijk’s existence as a place of pilgrimage for Saint Jerome came to an end in the 16th Century. The Saint’s skull – possibly brought to safety somewhere – has been missing since then.
In 1892, Pope Leo XIII elevated Noordwijk to a place of pilgrimage of Saint Jerome for the second time in its history. The Relics, originating from the Abbey of Egmond, were transferred from Haarlem to the Parish Church in Noordwijk. Since then, they have been kept in a Shrine in the Saint Jerome Altar. The Shrine also contains a silver arm Relic. From then on, pilgrims received special favours in the form of Indulgences when visiting this Church. A marble plaque on the wall of the central portal is a reminder of this.
Since the 1960s, pilgrimages to Noordwijk have no longer been organised (surprised?!). However, every year on the 3rd Sunday in August, the St Jeroen Sleep Way’ (Jeroensommegang) is walked through the centre of Noordwijk-Binnen. On the same day, the annual Jeroenvespers are sung in the Church in the afternoon. The Patron Saint’s day of Saint Jerome is also celebrated every year on the first Sunday in September.
AnaStpaul 