Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints for October 30, Learn more
- Serapion of Antioch, bishop;
- Marcellus, martyr;
- Asterius, bishop;
- Germanus of Capua, bishop;
- Ethelnoth, bishop;
- Alphonsus Rodriguez
St. Alphonsus Rodriguez (1533-1617 A.D.) was the son of a wealthy merchant at Segovia, Spain. Bl. Peter Favre, one of the original nine members of the Society of Jesus, and who was a close friend of his father, prepared Alphonsus for first communion. Alphonsus was sent to Alcala to study under the Jesuits. He returned to Segovia upon the death of his father to oversee the family business. He got married but when his wife passed away, he sold the business. When his son also died several years later, he applied to the Society of Jesus. He was not admitted at Segovia. He went back to grade school and by a special ruling of the provincial was admitted to the Jesuits as a lay brother. After final vows, he served in the lowly post of hall porter at Montesion College on Majorca. Known for his holiness, he was consulted by both the learned and the simple. St. Peter Claver was under Alphonsus' guidance while a student at Montesion. St. Alphonsus suffered ill health the last years of his life until he died on November 1. He was canonized together with Peter Claver in 1888 A.D. by Pope Leo XIII.
Related blog posts:
- St. Ignatius of Loyola, Priest and Founder of the Society of Jesus, Learn more
- "Hearts on Fire: Praying with Jesuits", Learn more
The prayer of St. Alphonsus Rodriguez in the book, "Hearts on Fire":
"Lord, show me your ways".
His three brief aspirations:
"Lord, let me know you, let me know myself.
Lord, you do your will and not mine.
I'm just coming, Lord."
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