|
St. Jerome Emiliani
b: 1481 d: 1537
Feastday: February 8
Jerome Emiliani lay chained in the dark dirty dungeon. Only a short
time before he had been a military commander for Venice in charge
of a fortress. He didn't care much about God because he didn't need
him -- he had his own strength and the strength of his soldiers
and weapons. When Venice's enemies, the League of Cambrai, captured
the fortress, he was dragged off and imprisoned. There in the dungeon,
Jerome decided to get rid of the chains that bound him. He let go
of his worldly attachments and embraced God.
When he finally was able to escape, he hung his metal chains in
the nearby church of Treviso -- in gratitude not only for being
freed from physical prison but from his spiritual dungeon as well.
After a short time as mayor of Treviso he returned his home in
Venice where he studied for the priesthood. The war may have been
over but it was followed by the famine and plague war's devastation
often brought. Thousands suffered in his beloved city. Jerome devoted
himself to service again -- this time, not to the military but the
poor and suffering around him. He felt a special call to help the
orphans who had no one to care for them. All the loved ones who
would have protected them and comforted them had been taken by sickness
or starvation. He would become their parent, their family.
Using his own money, he rented a house for the orphans, fed them,
clothed them, and educated them. Part of his education was to give
them the first known catechetical teaching by question and answer.
But his constant devotion to the suffering put him in danger too
and he fell ill from the plague himself. When he recovered, he had
the ideal excuse to back away, but instead his illness seemed to
take the last links of the chain from his soul. Once again he interpreted
his suffering to be a sign of how little the ambitions of the world
mattered.
He committed his whole life and all he owned to helping others.
He founded orphanages in other cities, a hospital, and a shelter
for prostitutes. This grew into a congregation of priests and brothers
that was named after the place where they had a house: the Clerks
Regular of Somascha. Although they spent time educating other young
people, their primary work was always Jerome's first love -- helping
orphans.
His final chains fell away when he again fell ill while taking
care of the sick. He died in 1537 at the age of 56.
He is the patron saint of abandoned children and orphans.
In His Footsteps:
Become a foster parent. Millions of children need the love and care
of a foster family. Contact your local Family Services agency or
Catholic Charities to find out how you can help.
Prayer:
Saint Jerome Emiliani, watch over all children who are abandoned
or unloved. Give us the courage to show them God's love through
our care. Help us to lose the chains that keep us from living the
life God intended for us. Amen
©1996 Terry Matz. All Rights Reserved.
|
