St. Jerome Emiliani, CONFESSOR, A.D. 1537.
by VP
Posted on Saturday July 20, 2024 at 12:00AM in Saints
"He was born of a noble family at Venice, and served in the army in very troublesome times. He commanded a castle, which was taken by the enemy, upon which he was cast into a dungeon, with fetters on his hands and feet. When destitute of all human help, he implored the protection of the Holy Mother of God, by whom he was miraculously delivered from prison, and conducted in safety beyond the reach of the enemy. Arriving at Tarviso, he hung up his chains before the altar of the Blessed Virgin, in grateful acknowledgment of the favour he had received.
Returning to Venice, he began more assiduously to cultivate piety, and particularly charity to the poor. But he had a particular compassion for poor children who were orphans, and wandered about the city without friends or home. These he received into a house which he hired at his own expense, and there maintained them and instructed them in Christian doctrine and piety. The saint was induced by St. Cajetan and Peter Carafa, afterwards Pope Paul IV., to reside in a hospital of incurables, where he continued to educate orphans, while he served the sick at the same time with unwearied charity.
He afterwards erected several institutions for orphans in various parts of Italy; and one also for female penitents. At length he settled at Somascha, on the frontiers of the Venetian territory, and there began the Congregation or Institute known by the name of Somascha, for the care of orphans, the favourite objects of his charity, and also for the education of youth in general, which was approved by St. Pius V., and received particular privileges from succeeding pontiffs.
He made a journey to Milan, and there and in other places he collected together a number of poor children, and provided for them by the assistance of certain
wealthy and noble persons. Returning to Somascha, he became all to all,
and refused no labour, which he considered likely to benefit his
neighbour. He helped the labourers in the harvest, and as he worked with them, he took opportunities of instructing them in the mysteries of faith, and exhorting them to religion and virtue. He was also very charitable and patient in dressing the sores of poor
suffering children and others, and was so successful in treating them,
that he was considered to be gifted with a miraculous power of curing diseases. Having found a cave in the mountain of Somascha, he often retired thither, and spent whole days in fasting, severe disciplines, and prayer. At length he caught a distemper while serving the sick, and died a death precious in the sight of God, on the 8th of February,
1537, being fifty-six years old. Many miracles had been wrought by him
before his death, and many happened after it, to attest the holiness of his life, and his glory after death." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother
