Patrick W. Skehan facts for kids

Patrick William Skehan was an important American scholar and priest. He was born in New York City on September 30, 1909, and passed away on September 9, 1980. He spent his life studying ancient languages and the Old Testament, which is a part of the Bible.

Education and Priesthood

Patrick Skehan went to Fordham University and earned his first degree in 1929. He then studied to become a priest at St. Joseph's Seminary.

He continued his studies at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. There, he focused on ancient languages and the Bible. In 1938, he earned a special doctorate degree in the Old Testament.

On September 23, 1933, Patrick Skehan became a Catholic priest. This was an important step in his life and career.

Academic Career

Skehan became a professor at the Catholic University of America. He led the department that studied Semitic and Egyptian languages. These are very old languages like Hebrew and Aramaic.

Teaching and Editing

He taught Hebrew, Aramaic, and Syriac languages at the Catholic University. He also spent time as a guest professor in Rome, Italy, at the Pontifical Biblical Institute.

Skehan helped translate the New American Bible. This is a modern translation of the Bible. He also worked as an editor for several important religious journals. These included the Catholic Biblical Quarterly and Old Testament Abstracts. He also helped create the New Catholic Encyclopedia.

Work with the Dead Sea Scrolls

In 1947, a famous archaeologist named William Foxwell Albright asked Skehan to teach in his place at Johns Hopkins University. Skehan helped out on several occasions between 1947 and 1956.

A very important part of Skehan's work was with the Dead Sea scrolls. These are ancient Jewish texts found in caves near the Dead Sea. In 1953, Skehan was chosen to be part of the team that studied and published these scrolls. This was a huge project, and he worked with other famous scholars.

Awards and Honors

Patrick Skehan's hard work and contributions were recognized by the Holy See, which is the central government of the Catholic Church.

• In 1954, Pope Pius XII named him a Monsignor. This is an honorary title for a Catholic priest.
• In 1958, Pope John XXIII gave him another special title, Domestic Prelate.
• In 1964, Pope Paul VI awarded him the Benemerenti Medal. This medal is given for long and excellent service to the Church.

His students and colleagues also honored him. In 1974, a special collection of scholarly writings, called a festschrift, was published in his honor. One of his students, Alexander A. Di Lella, wrote that Skehan was "more than a dedicated teacher and scholar. He was above all a loyal churchman and devout priest, a Christian gentleman, and a superlative human being."

Works

Patrick Skehan wrote many important books and articles. Here are some of his key works:

Books

• Studies in Israelite poetry and wisdom (1971)
• The Wisdom of Ben Sira: a new translation with notes by Patrick W Skehan (1987)
• Qumran cave 4. IV: Palaeo-Hebrew and Greek biblical manuscripts (1992)
• Qumran cave 4. 13 The Damascus document (4Q266-273) (1996)

See also

In Spanish: Patrick W. Skehan para niños

• List of Catholic University of America people