St. John Berchmans
Patron of Altar Servers
1599 - 1621
Eldest son of a shoemaker, John was born at Diest, Brabant. He early wanted to be a priest, and when thirteen became a servant in the household of one of the Cathedral canons at Malines, John Froymont. In 1615, he entered the newly founded Jesuit College at Malines, and the following year became a Jesuit novice. He was sent to Rome in 1618 to continue his studies, and was known for his diligence and piety, impressing all with his holiness and stress on perfection in little things. He died there on August 13. Many miracles were attributed to him after his death, and he was canonized in 1888. He is the patron of altar boys. His feast day is November 26.
Previous Saint
< Bl. John Bodey
Next Saint
Bl. John Beche >
Rate This Saint
1 - 18 of 18 Comments
Leave a Comment
Previous Saint
< Bl. John Bodey
Next Saint
Bl. John Beche >
Find Saints
Catholic Online offers the largest searchable database of Catholic Saints on the internet.
| Browse Saints by Alphabet |
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
| Patron Saints by Alphabet |
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
Videos
St. Francis of Assisi 78,864 views View Video
Padre Pio 47,309 views View Video
Black Saints Vol I 30,546 views View Video
Black Saints Vol II 27,092 views View Video
Most Popular
There's the problem! Americans are out of touch with scientific consensus on climate change Read More
Sex In Uniform: Why the Increase in Sexual Assaults in the Military? Read More
Culture of Corruption: Why Obama's misuse of Marines is wrong Read More
Bill Donohue, Catholic League, Disclose Fight with the IRS, Demonstrate Courage Read More
Pope Francis Shakes up the Ambassadors Meeting and Addresses Economic Issues Read More
Daily Readings
Reading 1, Sirach 5:1-8
Do not put your confidence in your money or say, 'With this I ... Read More
Psalm, Psalms 1:1-2, 3-4, 6
How blessed is anyone who rejects the advice of the wicked and ... Read More
Gospel, Mark 9:41-50
'If anyone gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong ... Read More
Saint of the Day
St. John Baptist Rossi
May 23: This holy priest was born in 1698 at the village of Voltaggio in ... Read More
Latest Videos
Pope Francis speaks of Christian originality View Video
President of El Salvador gives Pope a relic of Msgr. Romero View Video
Pope meets with Italian bishops to lead a Profession of Faith, before the tomb of St. Peter View Video
Kevin Durant Meets With Volunteers and Families Affected by Tornadoes View Video
American appointed to head Order of Friars Minor View Video
Marketplace
Dear Children! The Messages of Medjugorje (presented thematically) Read More
Baptism Accessories
Christening Wardrobe has a variety of christening accessories for ... Read More
Dear John Berchmans, beloved saint, whose motto was to "perform ordinary actions with extraordinary perfection", help us to emulate you. Recently, Our Lady appeared. She was clearly visible to one and all on a glass panel of a hospital window, on the seventh floor of the Medical Centre in Subang Jaya, Malaysia. I was privileged to witness Mama Mary's image too. She appeared to bear a very close likeness to the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Malaysians are overwhelmed by Your love and kindness, Mama. We are waiting for the official verdict from the Catholic authorities. I know that in all Your appearances/apparitions You have asked us to repent and to pray. Mother, I would like to make a firm resolve to pray the rosary everyday. Help us in our prayer life. Give us perseverance in prayer. In the year of Faith, help the church community grow in faith, by acts of charity and service. Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar, my we love Thee daily more and more. Amen
A great young saint. St. John Berchmans, please pray for us.
There is another school in South Africa in Soweto Orlando East named after St.John Berchman
I love saint john berchmans because am an altar server and he have helped me so much an will alway help those in need. Saint john berchmans pray for us we need you in our live. Amen
thanks you st. john Berchmans
i am so glad to be an altar r serverst john ask of u to intercede for all of us
I am an altar server and an MC, which for you non-altar servers means I am in charge of the younger servers and I assign jobs before each mass. I love serving! I am so glad that girls are allowed to be servers, unlike when only boys could be servers. When I serve, I feel at peace. Now I will pray to St. John to help me remember everything I have to do! I just wish that St. John had more information on his page so I could use him for my Confirmation project. Thanks for reading this if you are! :)
I would just like to know if their is a prayer card available
I pray through you John berchmans, that i follow your ways of being kind, gentle, affectionate, brave and open in my life, also let me something more than i have been tasked to do, to have a naturally gifted intellect and a good memory, let me also adhere to the sermons in real concentration whilst in church,, pray that i have the wisdom to make me and my wife leave until our real old ages, i pray all this though our Lord Jesus Christ.Amen
Dear St. John Berchmans, You had an unparalled devoution Holy Eucharist and Mother Mary. Please pray for us who are fickle and wavering, to be more steadfast in faith.
St John Berchmans we admire and love you. What sublime, simple sanctity you have shown us. I do think that God want us all to be saints. Pary for all who attend Mass. Seek forgiveness for us who are impatient when the homily is long and pedantic. Give us the special grace to pray as if we can truly see Jesus before our eyes, at Mass. Jesus sees us anyway. Help us respond to Our Beloved Jesus. What an outpouring of grace is there for us when we receive Him in the Blessed Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Jesus come to us each day and scantify us. Mother Mary pray for us. Dear St. John Berchmans, pray for all altar servers and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, for we come into the holy scanctuary. Amen.
BEST SAINT EVER!!!!!!!!!! I am also an altar server and I ask St. John to help me serve the best I can before I serve.
Living a good life matters a lot thats why all these brethden are saints,i will try to emulate their lifestyle so as to inherit the heavenly kingdom
I am an altar boy.
When I heard that St. John Berchmans was the patron saint of altar boys I was happy and wanted to know his story.Thank you.
As aan alter server this was very helpful for me and all the other alter serving in my community.
This Saint Is Important To Me Because Im A Alter Server And I Had To Do A Project And This Inspired Me To Be A Better Alter Server And Look Up More About St. John Berchmans He Is A Really Great Saint I Hope To Be Like Him One Day, Thank you
This sure is a small piece of information about this guy so far because I will only say I actually own a picture book with a bit more with details.
i had to do this for homewrk