October 20, 2009
The morning after our arrival in Spain we purchased our “Tarjeta Dorada” [Golden Card] for senior discounts on the national train system and purchased tickets on the fast train [up to 186 MPH] to Sevilla.
The first weekend here was spent with a friend who lives in a suburb of Sevilla. A couple nights rest and home cooked meals helped us recover from jet lag. We went with her to a former monastery of the Order of Saint Jerome, an order of monks who wished to emulate the life of Saint Jerome. St. Jerome was a scholar of Hebrew and Greek who translated the Bible into Latin. This translation became known as the Latin “Vulgate” version because, for over 1000 years it was “commonly used” [vulgate]. The Monasterio de San Isidoro del Campo was founded in the 14th Century and it was there that the first translation of the Bible into Spanish was begun in the 1550s. This translation, today known as the Reina-Valera is in common use in Spain today. In other words, during the heart of the dark years of the Spanish Inquisition scripture translation into a common language of the people was bravely begun there. For us who are interested in the translation of the Bible this relatively unknown site holds a special significance.
The light hearted photo above features Sister Beryl and Sister Mary outside the monastery.
Consider the following verse as our benediction to you:
Sofonías 3 (Reina-Valera 1960)
17 Jehová está en medio de ti, poderoso, él salvará; se gozará sobre ti con alegría, callará de amor, se regocijará sobre ti con cánticos.
Zephaniah 3 (New International Version)
17 The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.
[El texto Bíblico ha sido tomado de la versión Reina-Valera © 1960 Sociedades Bíblicas en América Latina; © renovado 1988 Sociedades Bíblicas Unidas. Utilizado con permiso. Reina-Valera 1960™ es una marca registrada de la American Bible Society, y puede ser usada solamente bajo licencia.
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. The "NIV" and "New International Version" trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica. Use of either trademark requires the permission of Biblica.]