PATRON SAINT OF THE ORPHANED OR UNWANTED. This week is the Optional Memorial of a man whose ordinary concern, holiness, and outreach to those in need inspired many to follow his example and earned him Sainthood! Saint Jerome Emiliani was born in Venice, Italy in 1486, into an aristocratic family. When the horrors of war reared their ugly head, he went into military service, but was captured and imprisoned in a deplorable dungeon. During his ‘dark night of the soul,’ as other holy writers describe such ordeals, Saint Jerome learned to pray – but not by memorizing formal prayers. He learned to truly converse with God which enabled him to become more aware of – and open to – God’s plan for his life, which had already taken some unexpected twists and turns. After praying the Collect for the holy Mass offered in his memory, I’ll ‘tell his story.’
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Saint Jerome Emiliani O God, Father of mercies, |
BLOOM WHERE YOU’RE PLANTED! Moved by the horrific post-war state around Venice, his hometown (there were many orphans and fatherless children, massive destruction, plagues, famines, and other horrors akin to those now faced by the Ukrainians) – the future Saint briefly served as mayor. He also took charge of his nephews’ education. But after a spiritual awakening, he saw that Faith and religion were more important than securing physical, earthly provisions. So, he accepted God’s call to ministry; in 1518, at 32, was Ordained to the Priesthood.
As is so often the case, what he had planned to do as a Priest: celebrate Sacraments, preach the Gospel, oversee a Parish, etc., was not what God had planned for him. With famine and plagues decimating much of Italy, the need to provide for the earthly needs of the heaven-bound took precedence. He took to heart the admonishment of the Apostle: “If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,’ but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (James 2:15-17) With other Priests who joined him, Saint Jerome began a ministry of God’s Word-in-Action by forming a Religious Order whose charism was to offer spiritual and physical help to the poor.
The Somascan Fathers and Brothers, officially known as the ‘Clerics Regular of Somasca’ (the town in which the Order was founded; and they add the initials ‘C.R.S.’ to their names) their main outreach was to orphans or abandoned children. They also provided shelter to penitent prostitutes and a hospital that cared for the needy. They used most of the funds they raised for their Order to support their ministry. Many literally gave up their lives for their cause: Saint Jerome died on February 8 (his Feast Day) in 1537 from a disease he caught while he was tending to the sick.
NO EXCUSES! What makes all this truly amazing is: their secular world was in disastrous condition! Immorality and unethical behaviors were rampant in government and other organizations. Even the Church was a mess! Remember: he lived at the cusp of the Protestant Reformation, which was caused, in part, by the sins and failings of the people, and especially the Clergy. However, Father Jerome and his brothers did not cite scandals or the faults of God’s People or Church Leaders as an excuse to stop giving of themselves.
In many ways, our world is much like the times in which Saint Jerome Emiliani lived. We, too, have many fatherless, parentless, unwanted children; we, too, have many sick and dying indigent and immigrant people; and, sadly, we, too, must look beyond all the scandals and sins that still mar the Church. May God bless all who give of themselves to others, who adopt or offer foster care to unwanted children, who put themselves at risk by ministering to the sick and dying, and those who financially support the Church’s outreach to those in need. Saint Jerome Emiliani, pray for us!
With God’s love and my prayers,
Very Rev. Michael J. Kreder, VF, KCHS
PATRON SAINT OF THE ORPHANED OR UNWANTED. This week is the Optional Memorial of a man whose ordinary concern, holiness, and outreach to those in need inspired many to follow his example and earned him Sainthood! Saint Jerome Emiliani was born in Venice, Italy in 1486, into an aristocratic family. When the horrors of war reared their ugly head, he went into military service, but was captured and imprisoned in a deplorable dungeon. During his ‘dark night of the soul,’ as other holy writers describe such ordeals, Saint Jerome learned to pray – but not by memorizing formal prayers. He learned to truly converse with God which enabled him to become more aware of – and open to – God’s plan for his life, which had already taken some unexpected twists and turns. After praying the Collect for the holy Mass offered in his memory, I’ll ‘tell his story.’
|
Saint Jerome Emiliani O God, Father of mercies, |
BLOOM WHERE YOU’RE PLANTED! Moved by the horrific post-war state around Venice, his hometown (there were many orphans and fatherless children, massive destruction, plagues, famines, and other horrors akin to those now faced by the Ukrainians) – the future Saint briefly served as mayor. He also took charge of his nephews’ education. But after a spiritual awakening, he saw that Faith and religion were more important than securing physical, earthly provisions. So, he accepted God’s call to ministry; in 1518, at 32, was Ordained to the Priesthood.
As is so often the case, what he had planned to do as a Priest: celebrate Sacraments, preach the Gospel, oversee a Parish, etc., was not what God had planned for him. With famine and plagues decimating much of Italy, the need to provide for the earthly needs of the heaven-bound took precedence. He took to heart the admonishment of the Apostle: “If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,’ but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (James 2:15-17) With other Priests who joined him, Saint Jerome began a ministry of God’s Word-in-Action by forming a Religious Order whose charism was to offer spiritual and physical help to the poor.
The Somascan Fathers and Brothers, officially known as the ‘Clerics Regular of Somasca’ (the town in which the Order was founded; and they add the initials ‘C.R.S.’ to their names) their main outreach was to orphans or abandoned children. They also provided shelter to penitent prostitutes and a hospital that cared for the needy. They used most of the funds they raised for their Order to support their ministry. Many literally gave up their lives for their cause: Saint Jerome died on February 8 (his Feast Day) in 1537 from a disease he caught while he was tending to the sick.
NO EXCUSES! What makes all this truly amazing is: their secular world was in disastrous condition! Immorality and unethical behaviors were rampant in government and other organizations. Even the Church was a mess! Remember: he lived at the cusp of the Protestant Reformation, which was caused, in part, by the sins and failings of the people, and especially the Clergy. However, Father Jerome and his brothers did not cite scandals or the faults of God’s People or Church Leaders as an excuse to stop giving of themselves.
In many ways, our world is much like the times in which Saint Jerome Emiliani lived. We, too, have many fatherless, parentless, unwanted children; we, too, have many sick and dying indigent and immigrant people; and, sadly, we, too, must look beyond all the scandals and sins that still mar the Church. May God bless all who give of themselves to others, who adopt or offer foster care to unwanted children, who put themselves at risk by ministering to the sick and dying, and those who financially support the Church’s outreach to those in need. Saint Jerome Emiliani, pray for us!
With God’s love and my prayers,
Very Rev. Michael J. Kreder, VF, KCHS