Saint Alphonsus Rodriguez
Jesuit lay brother who was doorkeeper of the Majorca college for forty-six years
- Rank
- Saint
- Kind
- Religious, Mystic
- Life
- 1532 – 1617
- Era
- 17th century
- Feast
- 31 October
- Countries
- Spain
Life story
Alphonsus Rodriguez was born on 25 July 1532 in Segovia, Spain, the son of a wool merchant whose family later fell into poverty. At twenty-six he married María Suárez and they had children. His wife and some of the children died, and by about the age of thirty-one he was a widower who turned toward religious life.
His schooling was slight: according to the sources he spent only a short time at the Jesuit college at Alcalá, and a later attempt to finish his studies at Barcelona failed. On 31 January 1571 he was admitted to the Society of Jesus as a lay brother. His novitiate began at Valencia or Gandía, as the sources disagree.
After about six months his superiors sent him to the newly founded Jesuit college on the island of Majorca. There he was porter for forty-six years, receiving visitors, delivering messages, giving out alms and advising many who came to see him. The young Jesuit Peter Claver lived with him for a time and, on his advice, asked for the South American missions.
By order of his superiors he wrote, or dictated, many spiritual notes, later printed as the Obras Espirituales (Barcelona, 1885). He died on 31 October 1617 in Palma de Mallorca. In 1633 the Council of Majorca chose him as a special patron of the city and island. Pope Leo XII beatified him in 1825, and Pope Leo XIII canonized him on 15 January 1888.
Works and witness
- Merchant in Segovia, married, widowed at thirty-one
- Admitted to the Society of Jesus as a lay brother on 31 January 1571
- Porter of the Jesuit college in Majorca for forty-six years
- Advised Peter Claver when he asked for the South American missions
- Left spiritual manuscripts, later printed as the Obras Espirituales
Patron of
City and island of Majorca (chosen by the Council of Majorca in 1633)
Saints from the same country
References
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1907), entry St. Alphonsus Rodriguez (New Advent, cathen/01341a)
- America magazine, St. Alphonsus Rodriguez and the Catholic Brother (americamagazine.org)
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.