St. Jerome Emiliani
1481 - 1537
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
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St. Jerome Emiliani, please pray for us.
Dear Saint,
Grant me, I beseech you, the zeal that you had for orphans so that I would be able to help children who are in need of love and care. Enable me to let loose of the chains that bind my soul. Help me to be strong and courageous internally to do the will of God. Amen.
All Blessings to you St. Jerome, you are in my thoughts today; when I see a child on the street I will think of you.
Please pray for Jacob that he find peace and the right path, for his mother that the doctors can slow the progression of her disease and for all cancer patients that we deal with our disease wioth grace and dignity. Thank you.
hey st.Jerome pls pray for my biology xam today time 11.45 to 2.45.be with me
Dear St. Jerome Emiliani, grant me the grace to acknowledge the poor and downtroden, and help them in whatever ways I can, without turning my face away
Thank you for your story on St. Jerome Emiliani. I love this beautiful ministry you all have of our loving so inspireing saints. xoxo
St. Jerome Emiliani, dear saint you so inspire us that I am in awe to think that you served the poor, helpless orphans, running the risk of catching the dreaded plague. So great was your love and devotion to Christ that no disease could hold you back from true service. Thank you for your fine example, and now in Heaven in the company of angels and saints pray for us poor sinners. Guard and guide our feeble minds, strengthen us to be brave in the face of obstacles, conflict and obstacles, That we may serve God always. Amen.
February8th, Saint Josephine Bakhita
My 16 year old son will be confirmed next month. I am so proud of him choosing St. Jerome Emiliana as his confirmation. My son truly has the same compasions.
St. Jerome Emiliani was not a priest nor a religious that's why he is such an inspiration for all the lay people like me. This means that we can all aspire to be like him in our own places no matter how insignificant it may seem to be. Touching people's lives brings us closer to the life of holiness.
Today is my son's birthday so I am sending this to him. Maybe St. Jerome can help him in his time of need.
The Somascan priest in the parish where I go to daily Mass clarifed that St. Jerome Emiliani was a layman, i.e., he was not a priest. Perhaps, he studied for the priesthood but apparently he was never ordained a priest. His life, thus, inspires us layman to do something especailly for the orphans and the abandoned children.
There is one here: http://magnificat.ca/cal/engl/07-20.htm
i love this saint! i wish he was around now
this was very helpful and i enjoyed reading it
the site is well built.can i get st jerome emiliani's photograph
i aspire to be a saint like him
this was very helpful to me i want ya to inform me if yaknow any more websites about saints because i want to become one i am very inspired to be one
A true hero of his time.