Saint of the Day: St. Alonso Rodriguez

Jesuit Lay Brother (1533-1617)

His life

+ Alonso (who is also known as Alphonsus) was born in Segovia, Spain. He received his First Communion from the Jesuit priest Saint Peter Fabre, one of the original companions of Saint Ignatius Loyola.

+ After his father’s death, he assumed control of his family’s business and married Maria Suarez; the couple had two children.

+ When Alonso was in his late thirties, his wife and children died, and he asked to enter the Society of Jesus. Because of his limited education and age, he was accepted as a lay brother. He was eventually assigned to serve as porter (doorkeeper) of the Jesuit community in Majorca. He held that post until his death 45 years later.

+ Deeply devoted to the Immaculate Conception, he composed short spiritual treatises that reveal a simple, but solid, piety.

+ He was highly regarded by his Jesuit confreres and served as spiritual director for a number of priests, including Saint Peter Claver.

+ Saint Alonso Rodriguez died on October 30, 1617. Declared heavenly protector of Majorca in 1633, he was canonized with Peter Claver in 1888.

For prayer and reflection

“My heart is full of longings and desires to please God, because of the great love I have for him, by breaking with myself and all my concerns in this life, even with my own self, in order to please God.”—Saint Alonso Rodriguez

Prayer

Lord our God, in Saint Alphonsus, our brother, you have shown us the way of fidelity that leads to joy and peace. May we remain watchful and attentive as companions of Jesus, who became the servant of all, and now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(from Supplement to the Divine Office for the Society of Jesus)

Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.