John Berchmans, Saint

JOHN BERCHMANS, Saint. - Born at Diest in southern Brabant on 13 March 1599, of a distinguished but decayed family, the first of five children, d. at Rome on 13 Aug. 1621. His mother, Elizabeth van den Hove, was a pious woman distinguished for great virtues; his father, after the death of his wife (1617), became a priest and was a canon of St. Sulpice in Diest. G., in the house of d. Peter Emmerick, a Premonstratensian and curate of St. Mary, profited in his studies, distinguishing himself among his companions. Having continued his studies at the schools of the Society of Jesus at Mechelen (1613-15), dear to his professors and fellow pupils for the gentleness and modesty of his manners and the exemplariness of his life, he felt himself called to greater perfection, and from reading the life of St. Aloysius Gonzaga he resolved to follow his example, determining by vow to enter the Society of Jesus. Having overcome the difficulties raised by his relatives, he entered the novitiate of Mechelen (1616).

Having made, out of private devotion, the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience (1617), on 25 Sept. 1618 he ratified them publicly. Sent to Antwerp, he received news of his father's death (1618) and of his assignment to continue his studies of philosophy at Rome, where he arrived on the last day of Dec. 1618. An emulator of St. Aloysius at the Roman College, G. stood out among the "scholastics": most punctual in everything, most sincere, diligent in his studies and in his duties, he advanced with great strides along the spiritual path, following the community in all things and setting the greatest store by the smallest matters, overcoming all human respect. He received from God the gift of prayer and of spiritual joy. His strength consumed, he died, after having obtained his doctorate in philosophy. The B. was the third of the Jesuit students to be canonized. He was proclaimed blessed by Pius IX in 1865 and canonized by Leo XIII on 15 Jan. 1888. His relics are preserved at Rome in the church of St. Ignatius, and his heart in the church of the Theological Faculty of the Jesuits at Louvain. His feast is celebrated on 26 Nov. He was proclaimed, together with St. Aloysius and St. Stanislaus Kostka, patron of studious youth.