SAINT ALPHONSUS RODRIGUEZ, Religious
FEAST DAY: October 30th
CANONIZED A SAINT: In 1888 by
Pope Leo XIII
PATRONAGE: The Island and City
of Majorca
PRAYER
Lord God,
you kept Saint Alphonsus faithful to Christ’s
pattern of poverty and humility.
May his prayers help us to live in fidelity to our
calling and bring us to the perfection you have
shown us in your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
SCRIPTURE READING
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans
We know that God makes all things work together for the good of those who love
him who have been called according to his decree. Those whom he foreknew he
predestined to share the image of his Son, that the Son may be the first-born of
many brothers.
~Romans 8: 28-29
OUTLINE OF TEACHING
Born in Spain in 1532, Alphonsus grew up in a very pious Catholic home. His
education was cut short due to the untimely death of his father. After taking over
the family business, Alphonsus married. Alphonsus and his wife had three children,
two of whom died in infancy. Alphonsus’ business failed and then suffered through
the death of his wife and mother and finally his last child. Subjecting himself to
many humiliations, Alphonsus was finally able to enter religious life and would
spend forty-six years as a lay-brother and porter of a small Catholic college.
Through his humility and kindness, Alphonsus was able to meet and influence many
people throughout his forty-six years as porter. Saint Alphonsus greatly influenced
the life of Saint Peter Claver to such a degree that in 1888, Pope Leo XIII canonized
them both as saints, together. Here is the story of how God can use us in the most
unexpected ways, if we are open to his holy will.
Saint Alphonsus Rodriguez,
Religious
Introduction
In the history of canonized saints we have a tendency to focus on the heroic
virtues of the martyrs or those saints who performed miracles or were signed with
the wounds of Christ through the Stigmata. We rarely think about those who lived
quiet, lowly lives engaged in the humblest of tasks as exciting examples of saints.
We have a wonderful tradition in the church of saints who humbled themselves, to
the point of humiliation. The lives of Saint Joseph of Cupertino, Blessed André
Bessette and Venerable Solanus Casey are just three examples of holy men who
seemed to be failures by the world’s standards, yet excelled in holiness through their
humility. The life of Saint Alphonsus Rodriguez could certainly be placed among
the above mentioned saints. His life could very well be seen as a life of failure
according to the world and certainly a life of deep loss and tragedy. Yet, through it
all, God raised this humble man to the heights of sanctity.
Early Life
Alphonsus, the third of eleven children, was born in Segovia, Spain on July 25,
1532. Little is known of his mother while we know that his father, Diego, was a
wealthy wool merchant. Theirs was a most devout Catholic family. When
Alphonsus was about ten years of age, Blessed Peter Favre as well as another Jesuit
missionary came to Segovia to preach a mission. The two Jesuits were pressed upon
by Diego Rodriguez to stay with his family and to join them for a few days’ holiday
at their home in the country. During this family holiday, Blessed Peter prepared the
young Alphonsus for his first holy confession and communion. By the time
Alphonsus was fourteen years old he was sent with an older brother to the Jesuit
boarding school at Alcala. Unfortunately, Alphonsus’ father died during their first
year of boarding school and the two Rodriguez brothers had to return home in
order to help their mother and younger siblings. Alphonsus’ mother, determined to
keep the family business going called upon her son to help her carry on. By the time
Alphonsus reached the age of twenty-three, his mother decided to retire and leave
the entire business operation to him. Soon after his mother retired, Alphonsus
married a young woman named Mary Suarez. Initially it seemed that this young
couple, hopeful of starting a family (they would have three children together) and
working hard in their family owned business, were on top of the world. Little did
they know of the heartache that awaited them.
A Broken Heart
Before Alphonsus knew what hit him, he found himself in the midst of gutwrenching misfortune and sorrow. The family wool business had been failing badly
and there was precious little he or his wife could do financially to salvage it. His
misfortune turned to sorrow when his infant daughter died. Soon, his wife, Mary
died as the result of a long illness after giving birth to a baby boy. Two years later,
Alphonsus’ mother died, leaving him with serious questions as to what God had in
mind for him.
Abandonment to God’s Holy Will
Alphonsus having always been a good, devout and
pious man, found himself as a young widower with a small
son to raise. What did God have in mind for Alphonsus?
He decided to sell his business in order to provide for
himself and his son and moved in with his two unmarried
sisters, Antonia and Juliana who led holy and pious lives.
Together, these two sisters began to school Alphonsus in
the ways of contemplative prayer. Before long, Alphonsus
would spend as many as two hours each morning and
evening in quiet meditation. Alphonsus was especially
attracted to the life and mysteries of the Rosary. Through
this time of prayer and contemplation, Alphonsus became
aware of how imperfect his life had been. After receiving
the grace of some sort of a heavenly vision, Alphonsus was
determined to live a more holy, prayerful life. After making a general confession, he
set out to go to confession as well as Mass each week. Within a few years, Alphonsus
would once again experience the agony of the cross through the death of his son.
With the death of his wife and three children, Alphonsus felt led by God to the life
of a religious.
The School of Humility
Initially, Alphonsus applied for entrance into the Jesuit order in Segovia, only to
have his request rejected. Although he was only in his late thirties, his overall
health was not good and his lack of education was found to be less than appealing to
the learned community of Jesuits. Refusing to cave into disappointment, Alphonsus
did the unthinkable in order to bring his education up to Jesuit standards.
Alphonsus put all humiliation aside and enrolled himself in a grammar school were
he would attend classes with little boys. Having given what was left of his money to
his two sisters and the poor, Alphonsus subjected himself to yet another humiliation
by working as a servant and even at times being reduced to begging in order to
survive. During the time of his schooling, Alphonsus felt tempted to abandon his
original calling to join the Jesuit order and live the life of a hermit in the mountains.
He soon came to realize that it in fact was a temptation. He brought these
temptations to his confessor saying to him; “I will never again follow my own will for
the rest of my life. Do with me as you think best.”
Acceptance into the Jesuit Order (The Society of Jesus)
In 1571, at the age of thirty-nine, Alphonsus was
accepted into the Jesuit order as a lay-brother. After
six months of initial formation in the spiritual life,
Alphonsus accepted his first and what would be his
only assignment in the order. He was sent from Spain
to the island of Majorca to serve as the hall-porter
(door-opener or receptionist) at the College of
Montesione, where he would live for the next forty-six
years of his life. He loved his life as porter at the
school. He was not only a firm hand at the all boys’
school but was a very important link between the
public and the life of the Jesuits at the school. When
Alphonsus was not working, he could be found in the
chapel in prayer. One of the Jesuit priests at the
school said of Alphonsus; “That brother is not a man,
he is an angel!” His spiritual life was not always easy,
especially in his later years when he would experience
long periods of desolation and aridity, something
commonly found among the saints. It was said of
priests who had known Alphonsus for forty years or more that they never noticed a
word or action of their brother that could be a cause of criticism. At the age of fiftyfour, Alphonsus made his final vows with the Jesuits. These vows of poverty,
chastity and obedience would be renewed by Alphonsus every day at Mass.
Life as Porter
While at the College of Montesione, Alphonsus’ reputation grew in stature, not
only with the students but with the town’s folks. There was a constant stream of
people of all rank and stature who come to the college in order to see the Jesuit
priests for spiritual direction or confession. The poor were also regular visitors to
the college. All who came to the college would encounter a very holy and helpful
friend in Brother Alphonsus. Every one who got to know Alphonsus grew in their
love respect of the future saint, especially those who sought his advice. One person
for whom Saint Alphonsus would have the greatest influence over would become a
saint in his own rite.
One saint encounters another saint
In 1605 a young student came to the college named Peter Claver. During the
three years that Peter studied at the college he became very close friends of the
humble porter. The future saint actually put himself under the spiritual care and
direction of Brother Alphonsus. During their many opportunities to share in
spiritual direction, Brother Alphonsus encouraged Peter to become a missionary to
the Americas. Peter Claver (feast day: September 9th) did indeed enter the Jesuit
order and would become the “Apostle of the black slaves” as he spent his entire life
serving their physical and spiritual needs in Columbia. Over his many years of
serving the slaves brought to Columbia from Africa, Saint Peter Claver would
literally baptize thousands of slaves and hear countless numbers of confessions, all
due to the influence of his spiritual director, Brother Alphonsus. The love and
devotion Brother Alphonsus had for the Blessed Mother also played a very
important role in aiding Saint Peter Claver.
Journey to Heaven
Saint Alphonsus suffered many difficulties in terms of his health in his latter
years. When he was over seventy years of age and no longer to perform his duties,
he was for the most part confined to his bed. Just to see how this humble, obedient
brother would respond, the rector of the Jesuit order informed Brother Alphonsus
that he was being transferred to India. Without hesitation, Brother Alphonsus rose
from his bed in order to prepare for his journey to his new assignment. It became
well known of Alphonsus’ intercessory prayer for the needs of others and some of
the miraculous occurrences due to his sacrifices. In May of 1617 there was a priest
at the college who came down with rheumatic fever and asked for the prayers of
Saint Alphonsus. The ailing brother spent the night in prayer, interceding for the ill
priest. By morning, the priest was able to rise from his own sick bed and celebrate
the Mass.
In October of 1617, Alphonsus knew that his time on earth was quickly coming to
an end. After receiving Holy Communion on the twenty-ninth of the month, all of
the pain and suffering he was experiencing, both in mind and body left him.
Brother Alphonsus departed this life two days later and died on October 31, 1617
after having kissed the crucifix and repeating the Holy Name of Jesus. His funeral
was attended by the nobility of both Spain and Majorca, along with the poor, the
sick and the afflicted all of whom had been touched deeply by the life and devotion
of this holy brother and porter. Brother Alphonsus was canonized a saint along
with his spiritual son, Peter Claver at the same canonization Mass in 1888,
celebrated by Pope Leo XIII.
SUGGESTED DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1.) Have you ever been able to see the hand of God in difficult or tragic
situations in your life?
2.) Can you see how God has or will use you for His greater good through the
difficulties of your life?
3.) Is there a person in your life, whom you would consider to be very humble?
4.) Is there a person in your life, whom you would consider to be holy?
5.) Do you feel that your prayers for others really matter or make a difference?
SOURCES USED
1.) Liturgy of the Hours (Catholic Book Publishing Company, New York ©1976
2.) Lives of the Saints Butler, Alban (Vol. IV) (Thomas More Publishing, Allen,
Texas – First Published in 1756 and ©1956)
3.) Unpublished Source Material