Oct. 31, 2012 Wednesday:St. Alphonsus Rodriguez
St. Alphonsus Rodriguez
This saint was born in Segovia, Spain, in 1532. When he was fifteen, he was sent to study at the Jesuit College in Alcala. When his father died, Alphonsus had to leave school in order to help his mother run the family wool business. Three years later, he got married. He and his wife, Mary, were blessed with two children, a boy and a girl. But a time of suffering now came to Alphonsus. His business began to fail, his wife and mother became very sick, and in a short period of time his wife, children, and mother passed away. Alphonsus began to think about what God might have in mind for him. He had always been a devout Christian. But from then on, he prayed, did penance, and received the sacraments more than ever before.
Alphonsus asked to be admitted into the Society of Jesus. However, he was told that he must study first. So he went back to school. Little boys made fun of him. He had to beg for his food, because he had given all his money to the poor. At last, he was accepted as a lay brother and was made doorkeeper at the Jesuit College in Majorca.
“That brother is not a man—he is an angel!” his superior said of him years later. Priests who knew him for forty years never heard him say or do anything wrong. His kindness and obedience were known to all. Once, all the chairs in the house, even the chairs from the bedrooms, had been used for a Forty Hours devotion. By mistake, Brother Alphonsus’ chair was not returned until the following year. Yet he never mentioned the fact to anyone. He was happy to do without a chair.
Many people came to Alphonsus for spiritual advice. He inspired a young Jesuit named Peter Claver to offer his life in the missions of Latin America. (We celebrate the feast of St. Peter Claver on September 9.)
During his long life, St. Alphonsus had to conquer very strong temptations. Besides that, he had physical pains. Even as he lay dying, he spent a half hour in terrible agony. Then, just before he died, he was filled with peace and joy. He kissed his crucifix and looked lovingly at his fellow religious. He died in 1617 and was canonized by Pope Leo XIII on September 6,1887.
St. Alphonsus Rodriguez taught many lessons with his life. One very important lesson is the way he accepted all the events in his life from the loving hands of God. He never lost hope. We can ask St. Alphonsus Rodriguez to teach us how to trust.
-Daughters of St. Paul
This saint was born in Segovia, Spain, in 1532. When he was fifteen, he was sent to study at the Jesuit College in Alcala. When his father died, Alphonsus had to leave school in order to help his mother run the family wool business. Three years later, he got married. He and his wife, Mary, were blessed with two children, a boy and a girl. But a time of suffering now came to Alphonsus. His business began to fail, his wife and mother became very sick, and in a short period of time his wife, children, and mother passed away. Alphonsus began to think about what God might have in mind for him. He had always been a devout Christian. But from then on, he prayed, did penance, and received the sacraments more than ever before.
Alphonsus asked to be admitted into the Society of Jesus. However, he was told that he must study first. So he went back to school. Little boys made fun of him. He had to beg for his food, because he had given all his money to the poor. At last, he was accepted as a lay brother and was made doorkeeper at the Jesuit College in Majorca.
“That brother is not a man—he is an angel!” his superior said of him years later. Priests who knew him for forty years never heard him say or do anything wrong. His kindness and obedience were known to all. Once, all the chairs in the house, even the chairs from the bedrooms, had been used for a Forty Hours devotion. By mistake, Brother Alphonsus’ chair was not returned until the following year. Yet he never mentioned the fact to anyone. He was happy to do without a chair.
Many people came to Alphonsus for spiritual advice. He inspired a young Jesuit named Peter Claver to offer his life in the missions of Latin America. (We celebrate the feast of St. Peter Claver on September 9.)
During his long life, St. Alphonsus had to conquer very strong temptations. Besides that, he had physical pains. Even as he lay dying, he spent a half hour in terrible agony. Then, just before he died, he was filled with peace and joy. He kissed his crucifix and looked lovingly at his fellow religious. He died in 1617 and was canonized by Pope Leo XIII on September 6,1887.
St. Alphonsus Rodriguez taught many lessons with his life. One very important lesson is the way he accepted all the events in his life from the loving hands of God. He never lost hope. We can ask St. Alphonsus Rodriguez to teach us how to trust.
-Daughters of St. Paul
