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THE LIFE
OF ST. JOHN BERCHMANS, S. J.
THE
BEAUTIFUL title of “The Angel Saints” has been given to that triad of exquisite
flowers of dazzling purity which bloomed in the garden of the Society of Jesus:
St. Aloysius, St. Stanislaus, and St. John Berchmans. These very blossoms
unfolded their stainless petals just sufficiently to let us dimly guess at the
beauty which lay concealed within their hearts to be unfolded as these radiant
blossoms developed into full flower. „Angel‟ was the term applied to them by
those amongst whom these holy youths lived and died. It was the highest
expression of their wonder and admiration, and conveys to us, with marvellous
force and accuracy, the impression the Saints produced on those around them. If
one of the angelic spirits who surround the Throne of God was permitted to come
down on earth in mortal guise, it seemed to men that he would look like these
whose earthly forms reflected the beauty of their souls. Eminent sanctity is ever and always
attractive, but especially is it so to the children of men when to it is allied
the ineffable charm and grace of early youth united to the most stainless
innocence. The hardest-hearted, the most worldly, are touched by this
supernatural sight and, driven as they are to seek an explanation of the
phenomenon in supernatural causes, they apply the term which so fittingly
describes it—“Angel.”
BIRTH OF ST. JOHN BERCHMANS
MIDWAY
BETWEEN Antwerp and Maestricht lies Diest, an ancient town with a fine market-place,
narrow, medieval streets, and strange old houses, with curious pointed gables.
A sleepy old Flemish town of the Middle Ages, there is nothing within its walls
to arrest the attention of the ordinary tourist.. But to the Catholic it
possesses the supreme interest of being the birthplace of a Saint—one of the
“Angel Saints.” Leading from the
market-town is a narrow street, on the left of which a house, three stories
high, attracts the travel-ler‟s attention, not indeed, because of anything
remarkable in its architecture. It is unassuming in style, and the front seems
of recent construction. But in the centre of this house is a niche, and within
this niche stands the statue of a youth, in the habit of a religious, holding
in his hands, which are clasped, a book, a rosary, and a crucifix. Underneath
an inscription tells us that this is “The house of Blessed Berchmans.” Here our
Saint was born, on Saturday, the 13th of March 1599. The room in which he first
opened his eyes upon those earthly scenes is still shown, but it is in a sadly
dilapidated condition.
PARENTS OF ST. JOHN BERCHMANS
TOWARDS
THE CLOSE Of the sixteenth century there dwelt in this house, then known as the
sign of “The Great and the Little Moon,” a worthy citizen of Diest named
Charles John Berchmans. He was a man of stainless integrity, and stood high in
the esteem of his fellow-townsmen, by whom he was elected to some of the most
important posts in the Municipal Council. The reigning sovereign, Archduke
Albert, had also appointed him echevin, or one of ten magistrates appointed to
keep the peace of the city. His father had held the post, and so had two of his
brothers. The Berchmans were among the
best families in the place, but, like all the Flemings, they did not disdain
trade. Hence, Charles Berchmans followed the avocation of a cordwainer, or
shoemaker, at the sign of “The Great and the Little Moon.” Berchmans‟ wife,
Elizabeth Vanden Hove, was a member of a very rich, influential family of
Diest. Although not of older or gentler descent than the Berchmans, the Vanden
Hoves, by means of their wealth, had attained to a far higher position in the
social world. We are told that no cordial relations would seem to have existed
between the two families. Hence, we may infer that the wealthy Vanden Hoves
resented the marriage of a poor Berchmans with a daughter of their house. Both Charles Berchmans and his wife were regarded
by the people of Diest as models of piety and virtue, Their family consisted of
four sons and one daughter, and the pious couple spared no effort to train
these souls committed to their care, from their earliest years, to walk in the
paths of holiness and virtue.
ST. JOHN BERCHMAN‟S CHILDHOOD
OUR
SAINT, as we have seen, was born on a Saturday, and on the following day he was
.taken to the church of St. Sulpice, and there baptised, receiving his father‟s
second name, John. The old church, much defaced by the storms of troublesome
times through which it has passed, still stands in the market-place, and in the
yellow pages of the ancient baptismal register may still be traced the entry of
the saint’s baptism. From his earliest
years John manifested the most unalterable sweetness of disposition. Long
afterwards, when he had passed away to heaven, those who had known him in his
early years loved to recall how visibly God had set his seal upon him even from
infancy. Of a joyous, bright, disposition, never was his sunny brow clouded by
childish petulance or ill-humour. Naturally vivacious and ardent, he was never
seen to give way to temper or impatience. Even when abused and ill-treated by
other boys, as will, of course, sometimes happen amongst boys, John bore all
meekly and without complaint. He was sent, when very young, to a day-school. It
sometimes happened on his return that his knocks at the house-door passed
unnoticed, whereupon the holy child would steal away to the church of St.
Sulpice, and there, kneeling at the foot of Our Lady‟s statue, he would recite
five or six rosaries. When not yet seven years of age, he was in the habit of
rising before daybreak. His grandmother remonstrated with him for getting up so
early, upon which the little fellow made answer: “Oh! dear grandmamma, I must
serve my two or three Masses before school-time. What better place could there
be to win knowledge quickly and surely?”
HIS MOTHER’S ILLNESS
JOHN HAD
barely reached his ninth year when his mother was stricken with the mortal
malady which for eight weary years confined her to a bed of suffering. Our
Saint loved his mother tenderly, and he was ever at her side, ministering to
her, cheering her, consoling her with such words of saintly wisdom as filled
those who heard him with amazement. In her moments of greatest suffering the
presence of her angelic little son soothed and consoled the poor mother. John
was indeed the most wining and attractive of boys. Everyone loved him, but,
child as he was, he shrank from observation and shunned society. He never left
his home except to go to school or to the church. His master bears witness to
his retiring, modest disposition. “Nowhere,” he tells us, “did he see him so
often as in the church; nowhere so seldom as in the streets.”
JOHN’S FUTURE GLORY PREDICTED
JOHN
BERCHMANS seems to have manifested from an early age remarkable talent and
aptitude for study. His master, Wouter Van Stiphout, kept his school in the
medieval cloth-market, which still, at the present day, is used as the public
school. When John reached his eleventh year, he was entrusted to Stiphout‟s
care, and in a very short time succeeding in gaining his deep and lasting
affection. Stiphout loved this beautiful, saintly boy, and to his love was
united admiration for his brilliant gifts. John was, indeed, a pupil to be
proud of. Diligent, painstaking, he quickly outstripped all his young
companions. “I looked upon him,” says Stiphout, “as a sort of natural wonder. I
praised him before my scholars, and proposed him to them as a model for their
emulation. One day, when his father was asking me how he was getting on, I
recollect saying: „How blessed you are in such a son! He will be your
consolation, and my honour and glory.‟” Truly prophetic words, which in a few
years were to receive such glorious fulfilment.
VOCATION FOR THE PRIESTHOOD
OUR
SAINT‟S vocation was never for a moment uncertain. His pure, spotless heart
never held any desire, knew any ambition, save that of serving his God at the
altar. His father, urged by Stiphout‟s earnest words, consented to allow his
son to obey the call of God, and to put on the clerical dress. At that time the
parish priest of the church of Our Lady in Diest was a Premonstratensian monk named
Father Peter Emmerick. This religious had gathered round him at the presbytery
a number of pious youths with vocations for the priesthood, this forming, as it
were, a sort of seminary. Just at this time John‟s father found himself m very
straitened circumstances; but, notwithstanding, he determined to send his son
to Father Peter Emmerick. Charles Berchmans‟ lively faith and fervent piety
caused him to shrink from no sacrifice—whereby his children‟s welfare, above
all, their spiritual welfare, might be secured. And God richly re-warded those
sacrifices.
JOHN‟S NEW LIFE
FROM THE
DAY that John Berchmans left his father‟s house to go to Father Peter Emmerick
he scarcely ever visited it. He still continued to attend Stiphout‟s school,
which was quite near to his old home, but the new home at the presbytery of
Notre Dame seems to have filled his heart completely.
Very
wonderful is the record left to us of this boy‟s life during those years spent
with Father Emmerick. It was his delight to serve Mass, which he did with the
most .profound recollection. He loved to hear the Word of God, and he would sit
drinking in the preacher‟s words with a thoughtful gravity befitting one of
maturer years. He was extremely reticent, never speaking but when spoken to, and
then his words were very few and measured. Withal he was a merry, bright boy.
YOUTHFUL VIRTUE
JOHN‟S
OBEDIENCE was prompt and unquestioning, and he was ever ready to serve others.
He contrived that a good portion of the servants‟ work should fall to him, and
he would take his books and sit near the door, so as to attend promptly to the
bell. It fell oftener to his turn to read in the refectory than to any of the
others. He specially delighted in the Book of Proverbs, the Lives of the
Saints, and the Passion of Our Divine Lord. Boys as a rule delight in eating,
but John never thought about his food. He took everything that was given to
him, never finding fault with anything. He ate sparingly, and when in the
refectory seemed so abstracted that those around him used to make jokes,
telling him that his mind went to travel whenever he went to the refectory. All
this mortifica-tion and recollection did not prevent our young Saint from being
the brightest and sweetest of companions. Everyone loved him. Never was he
known to dispute or quarrel. He often acted as peacemaker in his companions‟
quarrels, and if he found that be could not restore harmony he would quietly
slip away.
LOVE OF PRAYER
WE HAVE
SEEN how even in early childhood John shrank from going amongst people. This
dislike to society grew with his youth. His first master, Stiphout, declared
that his aversion to the world arose from the exquisite delicacy and purity of
his conscience: “John was ever so simple and innocent, that he did not even
know by name vices to which boyhood has too often an inclination. And this was
why he kept away so much from his companions.” During the recreation hour, he
would stay in his room engaged in prayer or study until his master, fearing the
effect of such application upon his health, forced him to join his companions.
Sometimes he would be found in the most out-ofthe-way corners in the house
absorbed in prayer.
FIRST COMMUNION
IT WAS
DURING his stay with Father Emmerick that St. John Berchmans made his First
Communion, being at the time between eleven and twelve years of age. Who can
tell with what burning love and fervent piety he prepared to receive his Divine
Lord into his pure heart! He made his general confession to Father. Emmerick,
who was filled with awe and‟ admiration at the seraphic beauty and purity of
that young soul. He tells us that he could not restrain his tears when he saw
the “angel who was at my feet, all bathed with tears, as with deepest
contrition he accused himself of the lightest faults.” So great was John‟s
innocence that for some time Father Lmmerick hesitated about giving him
absolution, in doubt that there was sufficient matter in his confession.
When the
great day at last arrived, the day so long desired, so ardently looked forward
to, the Saint received his Hidden God from Father Emmerick‟s hands, in the
venerable church of Notre Dame. More than ever, like an angel was the holy
child at that moment: The venerable priest declared that the boy‟s face was
radiant shining with the light of purity and the burning love which consumed
him., John‟s First Communion proved for him as indeed it does for all children,
an epoch in his life. Henceforth he advanced in the path of holiness with great
strides. His love of God grew daily greater. His whole soul was, as it were, on
fire with love for his Lord. The sacred Name of Jesus, the first his mother had
taught his baby lips to utter, filled him with ecstacy. Let us quote from his
master again: “When he began to make progress in Latin versification, I gave
him leave to choose a subject for a theme in verse. He brought me an eulogy on
the Name of Jesus, so full of meaning, tenderness, and unction, that it was
easy to surmise, even then, that one day he would enter the Society of Jesus.”
A copy of this poem, in which John strove to express his pure heart‟s burning
love for Jesus, is still preserved in the Royal Library in Brussels. While living in the presbytery of Notre Dame,
St. John Berchmans went to confession every week, and he received Holy Communion
twice during the month as well as on all great feasts.
HIS LOVE FOR OUR BLESSED LADY
SECOND
ONLY to his love for Jesus, was that felt by our Saint for Mary. From his
infancy he had the most childlike trust and confidence in her. The mere mention
of our Lady brought a heavenly smile to his beautiful face, and when he spoke
of her there was a light in his eye, and a tenderness in his voice, which
revealed the depth of his love. All the witnesses for the cause of his
beatification testified to the Saint‟s extraordinary devotion to the Immaculate
;Mother of God. He never passed a statue of our Lady without saluting it, he
never left the church without paying a visit to Mary‟s altar. He used to
deprive himself of a portion of every meal in her honour, and many and
ingenious were his contrivances to hide this. The Queen of Purity showed how
acceptable to her was the love and devotion of this spotless young heart. She
shielded her favourite from the lightest breath of evil. The lily of spotless
purity bloomed in angelic loveliness in John‟s heart. Innocent as he was of
even the name of vice, a supernatural instinct caused him to shrink with horror
from the slightest thing that could tarnish the lustre of his virginal purity.
He would never allow anyone to touch him, and the least levity in words or
action on the part of any of his companions caused him to shun the delinquent‟s
company.
SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF MONTAIGU
ABOUT A
LEAGUE from Diest, on the summit of a very high hill, stands the Sanctuary of
Our Lady of Montaigu, especially dear to the Belgians. The stately church which
crowns the hill top was not completed until after our Saint had passed to
Heaven. The foundation-stone was laid by the Archdukes Albert and Isabella; but
the good Albert did not live to see its completion eighteen years later. John
made repeated pilgrimages to the Shrine of our Lady of Moritaigu. There was
nothing he loved better than to walk from Diest to the Sanctuary, observing
strict silence as he went, meditating on our Lady, and reciting her Rosary.
TROUBLES
CLOUDS
WERE gathering over the Saint‟s peaceful life of prayer and study in the
presbytery of Notre Dame. Charles Berchmans‟ financial difficulties had not
lessened, rather they had grown greater. His wife‟s last illness had entailed
heavy expenses, to say nothing of the serious loss which the want of her
presence and prudent management was to his home. Business was bad, and his
other children were growing up and required education. In his sore straits, the
father‟s thoughts turned to his eldest son, now nearly fourteen. John was a
youth of exceptional talent, so his masters averred. Surely he could be of some
use now. At least he could help his father in his business, and relieve him of
the burden of his support. Accordingly, John was sent for from school, all
unconscious of the blow about to fall upon him. “You see, my child,” said his
father, “it is impossible for me any longer to bear the expense of your
schooling. Up to this I have made great sacrifices, but I feel it impossible
for me to continue them. It seems to me you must learn a good trade. You will
by this means be able to be of great use to us, and, instead of being a burden
to your family, be a real assistance.” JOHN‟S
SORROW WHO CAN describe our Saint‟s
sorrow as he stood by his mother‟s bed and heard his father‟s words? We are
told that he threw himself at his father‟s feet, and with bitter tears
supplicated, first his father, then his mother, not to take him from the
service of God at the altar. “You know, father,” entreated the weeping boy,
“God calls me to the Church. A little longer, and I shall be able to follow
that holy calling. In Heaven‟s name, do not hinder my happiness. As to the
expense, you shall have no reason to be alarmed on that score. I will be.
content with so little you shall not suffer. I can live on bread and water.
But, pray, do not refuse me permission to continue my studies.” Charles Berchmans, as we know, was a man of
true piety; he was also a tender father. The sight of his boy‟s distress
affected him to tears, and we cannot doubt but that the suffering mother felt
an added pang at seeing her angel son, the solace of her life, so wrung with
anguish. Charles raised the weeping boy, and poured balm into his troubled
heart by promising to reconsider his decision.
JOHN LEAVES DIEST FOR MECHLIN
CHARLES
BERCHMAN held anxious council with his wife as to how their son‟s holy desires
might be gratified. The result of their deliberations was that the elder
Berchmans set himself to seek for some place where John would receive board and
education in return for his domestic services. To us this sounds a strange
arrangement, but one, it seems, quite usual in those days, where there were but
few ecclesiastical colleges. Before long the desired place was found in the
house of a Canon in Mechlin. Great was the grief of the people of Diest when
they found that the angel-boy, whom all loved, was going to leave them. Listen
to his old master, Stipbout: “While I was congratulating myself on having such
a pupil, and was enjoying in peace this favour from heaven, when my townsmen,
with one voice, gave him the title of the flower of the school and the pride of
the scholars, some persons who envied my good fortune, tried to get his father
to send him to Mechlin.” Poor man! Can you not sympathise with him in his grief
at losing his saintly pupil? Years afterwards, when he was called on as a
witness in the case of John‟s beatification, he revealed how deep and lasting
was his sorrow for his angel-pupil. “Life has been very bitter to me,” says the
old man, “since I lost that holy child.” Our Saint had a loving heart, and we
cannot doubt but that he, too, felt the paring from father, mother, all he
loved. But God was calling him, and the Saint obeyed that call promptly,
without pausing to count the cost, as is the way of saints. Early in 1614, St.
John Berchmans bade farewell to home and friends, and wended his way to Mechlin,
then the primatial city of Belgium.
HIS NEW HOME
CANON
JOHN FROYMONT, of whose household John now found himself a member, was not long
in discovering the treasure of holiness whom God had sent to him. Like all who
came in contact with the Saint, he conceived the warmest affection for him, an
affection which neither time nor distance ever chilled. The Canon kept a number
of boys of good family committed to his care. John, at once, on his arrival,
assumed the lowest place in the household, and undertook to perform the most
menial offices, washing plates and dishes, sweeping the yard, etc., But the
Canon, who soon came to regard John in the light of a dear son, would not allow
him to continue in such a menial position. He gave him the charge of three little
boys, brothers, and in this manner satisfied John‟s scruples on the score of
working for his living. Our Saint was, indeed, an earthly guardian-angel to
those children, watching over them, instructing them and leading them to God
with true and unwearied care. As at Diest, so at Mechlin, John won the
admiration and love of everyone. His modesty, his charming manner and
appearance took all hearts by storm. No one could look at the beautiful boy
without feeling convinced that a soul of dazzling purity and holiness dwelt in
the angel-like form. He lived for God alone, and in all places, at all times,
his heart was turned to Him as a flower turns to the sun. Young men of the
highest families in Mechlin sought his company, lowly as was his position. John
was affable and courteous to all, but no amount of notice could disturb his
deep humility, or cause a breath of vanity to ruffle his pure heart. He
maintained a calm, reserve, yet was ever courteous and obliging, willing to
spend himself for others. Sundays John devoted wholly to prayer and God‟s
service. He used to hear two, sometimes three Masses, kneeling, without moving,
and always was present at the Sunday sermon and vespers.
ST. JOHN BERCHMANS ATTENDS THE JESUIT
COLLEGE
IN 1615
the Jesuit Fathers, at the request of the civil authorities, opened a public
college in Mechlin. John with some other of Canon Froymont‟s pupils, was among
the earliest alumni of the new college. John, who attended as a day scholar,
was judged fit, on presenting himself, to become one of the “Rhetoric” class,
the highest in classical studies. In this new sphere, the Saint redoubled his
zeal. He was a model to the whole college of every virtue. He scrupulously
obeyed his masters, even in the most trivial points. He was the most fervent
and edifying of the members of the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin. Every day,
we are told, he recited, prostrate on the ground, the Office of the Blessed
Virgin; whilst on Saturdays, and the eves of her great feasts he fasted in our
Lady‟s honour. He always remained for two or three hours in prayer after
receiving Holy Communion. One Good Friday, he contrived to slip out of the
Canon‟s house at night, and to make the Stations of the Cross in his bare feet.
Here again, we have proof of John‟s humility and horror of notice, for we are
told that on these occasions, in order to avoid remark, he wore shoes without
soles; and stockings without feet. The Saint had a great horror of idleness. He
was never known to lose a moment of time. Sometimes he studied the whole night
long. This unwearied application and his brilliant talent, enabled him to
distance all competitors, and to carry off the first prizes.
HE DECIDES TO ENTER THE SOCIETY OF JESUS
IN 1616
John wrote to his parents that he felt convinced that it was the will of God he
should enter the Society of Jesus. He had come to this conclusion after much
consideration and long and fervent prayer. His confessor, Father de Greef,
fully approved of the Saint‟s resolution. Here is what he says about his
saintly penitent‟s vocation: “John Berchmans, who was my pupil and penitent all
the time he was attending our college, opened his mind to me about entering the
Society; and for the same end, by my advice, he used to go to Communion every
Sunday and holiday, and later on, every Thursday even when there were no feast
days .... Whatever bad behaviour might be in class, he was ever the same,
modest, attentive, hardworking, never a shadow on his brow, and his face always
wreathed in sweetness; he was always good-natured, and kind to all. One would
have said he was an angel in the flesh. In conversation, he was always trying
to find out, when he had to do or say something, what would be the most
perfect. Indeed, once or twice by the ardour of his consideration, he lit up in
my cold heart some flames, though feeble, of divine love, and the very thought
of them to this day fills me with confusion when I recall several practices
which I suggested to him, and which I have read of in his life.” John‟s design
met with great opposition from his parents, especially his father, who wished
his son to become a secular priest; but, convinced of God‟s Will, the ,Saint
remained firm, and finally triumphed over all obstacles. “I am greatly surprised,” he wrote to his
father, “that you, in place of loving and thanking God for the great favour
that He has willed to do not only myself, but yourselves also, in calling me to
holy religion, and .to such an Order, where men lead the lives of angels, and
you, I say, should counsel me not to .listen to our dear Lord, and to put off my
vocation for five or six months. It is not right, as you well know, that in
order to obey you, I should be disobedient to God. Our dear Lord, when He
called a young man to follow Him, would not let him go to bury his father who
had just died, though this was a good work, and one which needed but a short
time. And when He called another He forbade him to say good-bye to his friends,
saying: „No one putting his hand to the plough, and afterwards looking
backwards is fit for the kingdom of God.‟ Why do you think He said this, if it
was not to show us that we must follow our vocation then and there without
delay? So then, my ever honoured parents, that I may obey God, our Lord, that I
may make my salvation sure, and in fine that I may avoid that fearful sentence:
Vocavi et renuisti; quoque in interitu tuo ridebo—I called and you
refused; I also will laugh at your destruction.‟ I mean, with God‟s grace, in a
fortnight hence to share the joys of my brothers in religion.”
ENTRANCE INTO RELIGION
On
SATURDAY, 24th September, 1616, Feast of Our Lady of Mercy, our Saint bade
farewell for ever to the world, and entered the Novitiate of the Society of
Jesus in Mechlin. He was then just eighteen years of age, “his face, always
beautiful and beaming, was taking the form and shape of manhood.” He was poorly
dressed. “He wore a black cloth doublet and breeches of the same, a grey cloak
fell from his shoulders, and a stiff white collar, without frills or plaits,
supported by a black stock, ran round his neck” (Father Goldie). Another young
student from Bois-de-Duc, entered at the same time. “come, brother,” said the
Saint to this young man, “let us rejoice that we are in the house of the Lord,
we must not .be found unworthy of so great a favour. May both of .us always
live in this holy Society of Jesus, where God‟s service calls us, and may we
meet in Heaven after long and hard work.” Then, noticing a lay-brother digging
m the garden: “There,” said he, “we can begin at once; there is no better
opening for religious life than humility and charity;” and, throwing off his
cloak, he went to help the good brother. So great was John‟s delight at finding
himself in the haven of his desire that throughout that happy day he could not
cease from weeping from very joy. John repeatedly declared to Father de Greef,
that in entering religion he “aimed at nothing less than the most scrupulous
fulfilment of the least of the rules of the institute.” “I want to be a Saint,”
he said; “yes, and a great Saint, too! Is it possible to conceive that one
should not attain an eminent sanctity with all the powerful means of
sanctification the society has at its disposal?”
LIFE IN THE NOVITIATE
ST. JOHN
BERCHMANS, from the very first day of his entrance into religion, began to
carry out to the very letter his ideas regarding the life of a true religious.
Hence, it is not surprising to hear that in one month he had made more progress
than many made in twenty-four. The novices longest in the house felt and
acknowledged that this latest arrival had far outstripped them in the science
of spiritual life. John constantly repeated “that perfection does not consist
in doing great things, but in doing well what obedience orders and advises.”
Again, he used to say: “Set great store on little things”; and another of his
sayings was: “Do great penance for small faults. Be a miser and a merchant in
spiritual things.” All his companions looked on him as sent by God .amongst
them to be their model of perfection. One of them, soon after John‟s entrance,
speaking of him, said: “Just at the very time when our Lady began to work
miracles= at Montaigu, she wrought a still more extraordinary wonder at Diest,
by making an angel come down in the flesh.” Such was the universal testimony of
all whoever knew him—his. friends in the world, his companions in religion,
even strangers who only caught a glimpse of him as a novice-all called him “the
Angel.” No other words could express the impression made upon them by his
beauty and the purity which exhaled from him like the fragrance of some rare
flower. He was also called St. Hilarius or St. Laetus, so bright and sunny was
his disposition. Gloom and sadness were dispelled by his mere presence. One of
the Fathers, after his, death, declared: “I lived two years with him in the
Novitiate: Well, I am ready to declare, on oath, I never noticed in him the
smallest movement of impatience or anger.”
HIS MORTIFICATION
WITH ALL
HIS brightness, his sweetness, his, gentleness, John practised the severest
mortifications. Like all saints, he was severe to himself alone. “A mother to
others, a judge to myself.” Obedience was the only limit to his penance and
mortification, and in his intense desire to imitate his crucified Lord, he
actually wrung from his confessor permission for penances which seem to us
beyond the powers of mortal endurance. We are told that “there was kept in the
Novitiate of Mechlin, part of a rough and prickly hair-shirt, which he usually
wore, and cloths with which he had staunched the blood his scourgings made to
flow. During the keen frosts of a Flemish winter he hardly ever went near a
fire, though his hands and ears were cruelly chapped by the cold.” “My penance
above all others,” he used to say, “is common life. May I die rather than
violate deliberately the smallest order ar rule. I would rather lose my health
altogether than not keep a rule in „order. to preserve it.” Again he says:
“Rather die than for health‟s sake break a single rule.”
HIS HUMILITY
OUR
SAINT, as we have already seen, regarded humility as the foundation of all
perfection. Hence, he loved and sought .everything that could foster and
strengthen the growth of this virtue in his soul-the lowest and most menial
offices, the poorest clothes, reproofs, corrections. He repeatedly begged that
his faults might be known publicly. At last his request was granted, and ,
Father Banters tells us: “I told all the novices, then more than one hundred,
to jot down and give me in writing any defects they had noticed in Berchmans‟
conduct. I got these notes, and on opening them found that not one had been
able to observe the smallest defect in him.” Truly, a marvellous testimony to
John‟s holiness of life. John‟s confessor encouraged the Saint in his love for
humiliations and his great desire to be looked upon both by God and man, as
nothing. In this way he prepared himself for the close union with God which he
continually enjoyed.
HIS LOVE OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
HOW CAN
we describe the love of this pure heart for Jesus in the Adorable Sacrament of
the Altar? Seven times a day, at least, he visited the Prisoner of Love in His
Tabernacle, and he always paid a last visit just before retiring to rest. „This
practice, initiated by the Saint, is still observed in many houses of his Order.
HIS MOTHER’S DEATH
TWO
MONTHS after the Saint‟s entrance into religion, his mother‟s long life of
suffering came to an end. She died on 1st December, 1616. After her death
Charles Berchmans resolved to devote the remainder of his life wholly to God.
He seems at first to have had a great desire to enter the Society of Jesus;
but, doubtless, his advanced age prevented the realisation of his wish. On the
14th April, 1618, he was ordained priest and, as a mark of his fellow-citizens‟
esteem, was made Canon in the church of St. Sulpice, where the Saint was
baptised.
Charles,
the Saint‟s youngest and favourite brother, entered the Society of Jesus four
years after John‟s death, and lived to a ripe old age, dying in the odour of
sanctity. Adrian, the second son, also became a religious of the Augustinian
Order. He, too, died a saintly death, following John into eternal life nine
years later.
FIRST VOWS
ON THE
25th September, 1618, John made his first vows, and. a few days later he
received orders to go to Antwerp to enter on his course of philosophy. The
College of the Society at Antwerp, where our Saint resided for two months, is
now a military hospital. At Antwerp, as
wherever he went, John made the same deep and lasting impression of profound
holiness on all who, came in contact with him. The Superior of the House
afterwards declared on oath, in 1622, that “he, as well as many others, having
only known Berchmans during those few days, regarded him as a fervent Jesuit, a
perfect servant of God, a real saint.” On
the 18th of October the joyful news was communicated to the Saint that his
Superiors had decided to send him to Rome.for his philosophical and theological
studies. His. departure was fixed for the following Monday and, with his
superiors‟ permission, he wrote to his father asking him to meet him at Mechlin
on the 20th, to say farewell. When John reached Mechlin, the news awaited him
that his father had been already dead a week. It was a great blow, but John was
a saint, and to saints all that comes from the hand of God is sweet and
welcome. When told the sad news, he raised his eyes to heaven and exclaimed, in
the words of St. Francis of Assisi: “Then, I can henceforth really say, „Our
Father, Who art in Heaven.‟”
HIS NOVICE-MASTER‟S TESTIMONY
FATHER
BAUTERS, the novice-master at Mechlin, writing of the Saint after his death:
“During the whole time he lived in the Society in Belgium he was a striking
and, as far as nature allows, a perfect model of religious observance, a mirror
of regularity. All of us who had the happiness, to live with him, have been but
of one opinion on that subject. He led in our midst a truly angelic life by the
great innocence of his heart, the modesty of his behaviour, his wondrous
courtesy and gentlemanly manner, his peaceful way of acting, his perseverance
in all good he undertook, his perfect and prompt obedience, his rare prudence
on every subject, the fervour displayed in all he did, without ever losing
sight for a single moment of the presence of God, like the angelic spirits who,
walk ever in His sight. He has made him a saint. He has crowned him with a
crown of glory.”
ARRIVAL IN ROME
ON THE
last day of the year 1618, John and the young scholastic, Bartholomew Penneman,
who accompanied him, entered the House of the Gesu, after a long and weary
journey from Antwerp. They were received with fatherly kindness by Father
Vitelleschi, the sixth General of the Society of Jesus. A few days later the
new arrivals went to their future home, the Roman College, situated close by.
The Rector of the College was then Father Cepari, who afterwards wrote the
Saint‟s life, as he did also that of St. Aloysius.
LIFE IN THE ROMAN COLLEGE
OUR
SAINT‟S time on earth was drawing to a close. But three short years remained to
him before exchanging earth for heaven. How rich those years in every fruit of
sanctity and virtue! We have seen our Saint in his childhood‟s home, in the
Novitiate at Mechlin, ever growing in holiness, ever spreading around him the
sweetest perfume of spotless innocence and purity. His various confessors, from
Father Emmerick of Diest .to Father Cepari, who received his last sigh, all
declared that John had nevet lost baptismal innocence. Let us listen to Father
Cepari as he describes the Saint during those last years of life in the Roman
College.
FATHER CEPARI‟S TESTIMONY
“JOHN‟S
PERFECTION was so great that it extended not merely, to one or two virtues, but
to all, and to each virtue in particular. This is a thing so unusual as to
astound anyone who understands what it means to be full of the virtues which
are called those of „purified souls,‟ which St. Thomas rightly teaches are not
to „be found but with the blessed in Heaven and a few most perfect souls on
earth. This is what we all admired in him, that in every virtue he showed
himself to be perfect. He used, of his own accord, twice every month, to give
me, as his superior and father, an account of his conscience his every thought,
feeling, and wish. I remember once while he was telling me what God was doing
for him and how he was corresponding with these graces, I was quite overcome,
and I said to myself: O happy youth in whose soul God is so well pleased! O
blessed child, to whom God has given a privilege like that gift of grace and
original justice which He conferred upon Adam‟! . . . In our eyes, he was so
consummately exact and faultless that no one has ever been found who could say
that he had remarked in John the smallest moral fault, or observed even a
little imperfection in what he did.”
FURTHER TESTIMONY TO JOHN‟S SANCTITY
FATHER
JOHN BAPTIST Ceccotti was confessor and spiritual Father to the juniors during
John‟s time in the Roman College. “I can say with truth,” he declares, “as
regards the inner life of John that I have never found a soul of greater purity
and spotlessness than his. His brethren loved and revered him as an angel from
heaven. I cannot find words to express the idea I have of the .angelic purity
and innocence of so spotless a religious. I firmly believe that on his blessed
soul leaving his body it went forth so cleansed and spotless that it flew
straight .up to Heaven without touching Purgatory.”
LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH
WOULD
THAT we could trace at greater length the life of this angel on earth. Space
forbids us to linger, but enough has been said to convey some idea of St. John
Berchman‟s wondrous sanctity. “On
Friday, 13th of August, 1621, with his eyes fixed on the crucifix, clasping in
his hands his beads and rule-book, and pronouncing the sacred names of Jesus
and Mary, his pilgrimage came to a happy close, and he gave back in peace his
blessed soul into the hands of his Creator, leaving us all edified by his
innocent and holy life, and consoled by so :precious a death” (Father Cepari). Our Saint was seized with illness on the 5th
of August. At first no fatal results were apprehended, but the Saint him-self
seemed to have received some interior warning that the end was near.
MIRACLES
THE
PRECIOUS remains of St. John Berchmans were placed in a wooden coffin, which
was laid in a new vault of the Chapel .of St. Aloysius. While his angelic body
still lay awaiting „burial, God was pleased by a striking miracle to bear
testimony to John‟s great sanctity. A lady, Catherine de Reccenati, sixty-eight
years of age, for three months before the Saint‟s death had been affected by
almost total blindness. At her request she was taken to the bier on which the
holy remains lay. Father Aloysius Spinola, who was present, “told her to take
one of the fingers of John, and with it to touch her eyes. She did so, and
immediately cried out, „I am cured; I can see.‟ Again she applied the finger
and recovered her sight immediately.” Many other striking miracles are recorded
which were worked through the Saint‟s intercession, but we can only give the
above.
PORTRAIT OF THE SAINT
FATHER
CEPARI draws for us the portrait of the Saint: “John was of fair height, of a
ruddy complexion, and excellent temperament, and by no means thin. His face was
really angelic, pink and white, his forehead broad, his eyebrows so thick that
they seemed to be black, and the same might be said of his eyelashes. His eyes
were bright and lively, but bashful and full of goodness and sweetness, and
ever downcast. His nose was regular and slightly aquiline, his lips small and
ruddy. There was always a modest smile playing about them. His hair was light .
. . His hands were always quiet and composed upon his breast. His walk was
neither slow nor hurried, but moderate and grave. His whole carriage was so
modest as to strike all who met him . . . People would stand still to gaze at
him and enjoy the spectacle of so rare a model of modesty. To sum up all, we
may say that to a, pure and beautiful soul God gave a beautiful body to match,
and that his outward look was an image of his mind, a form of justice, as St.
Ambrose wrote of Mary ever a Virgin” (Father Cepari, Rector, of the Roman
College). ,
BEATIFICATION AND CANONIZATION
ON THE
28th of May, 1865, during the Pontificate of Pius IX, the Decree of
Beatification was solemnly pronounced in St. Peter‟s. On 22nd of January, 1888,
Pope Leo XIII issued the Bull of Canonization.
The
Saint‟s precious relics now repose in a magnificent tomb in the church of St.
Ignatius. Amongst the Saint‟s papers was found a vow, written partly in his
blood, by which he bound himself to defend Our Lady‟s Immaculate Conception,
PRAYER TO ST. JOHN BERCHMANS
O LILY of
purity, and model of the most exact obedience, St. John Berchmans! we choose
thee for our special Patron, and we entreat of thee to obtain for us from Jesus
and Mary, that by carefully guarding our senses, and by the faithful discharge
of our several duties, we may jealously watch over and preserve the beautiful
flower of purity. Inspire us with a very tender devotion, such as thou didst
cherish, towards the Queen of Virgins, and the angelic youth Aloysius, whom thou
so well knewest how to copy in thyself; and obtain for us that detached from
every earthly thing, we may, with our whole strength, love Jesus and Mary, so
that, enclosed in their hearts during life, we may come to love them, and
rejoice with them in thy company for all eternity in Heaven. Amen.
V. Pray
for us, St. John.
R. That
we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
LET US
PRAY
O God,
who didst bestow on St. John wonderful holiness, by the perfect observance of
regular discipline and singular innocence of life, grant by his merits and
prayers that, keeping faithfully all the Commandments of Thy law, we may secure
for ourselves purity of soul and body; through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
THE SODALITY OF SAINT JOHN BERCHMANS FOR
ALTAR SERVERS
A TOWN
may have several notable buildings, some distinguished by their architecture or
by the treasures which they enshrine, others by their associations with the
past and the memories they arouse. In every town or village, however, there is
one building which stands apart on a plane by itself. Other buildings may be
architecturally finer, may have involved a greater expenditure of money in
their erection, but this building stands apart as one requiring esteem-and
veneration all its own. This building is the church, the House of God. What a
wonderful place for a Catholic is his church or chapel. In it is the Font where
he was baptised and became a child of God. At its Altar Rails he received the
„Bread of Life for the first time and continues to receive it constantly as the
Spiritual Food of his soul, From its pulpit he hears the Word of God, and in
its Confessional he listens to the sentence of pardon which reconciles him to
his Creator after he has offended Him by sin. On its Altar is renewed the Sacrifice
of Calvary, the Clean Oblation which is offered up to God from the rising to
the setting of the sun. Above all, it is in the church that dwells, in a
special manner, Christ his Saviour Who from the Tabernacle invites him to come
for comfort when be is troubled and disturbed by the cares and worries of life.
“Come to Me all you that labour and are burdened and I will refresh you-“ How great, therefore, should be our reverence
and decorum is that House of God! With what care and respect should we not comport
ourselves in this holy place where we are, in a very real sense, under the very
Eye of God! Above all, if we are privileged to take part in the ceremonies in
God‟s House, to perform on earth those offices which the Angels fulfil before
the Throne of God in Heaven, what should be our modesty and reverence to show
by our whole bearing that we are conscious of this great privilege. To impress upon those who are thus privileged
to serve at the Altar of God the dignity and holiness of their work and to
enable, them to carry out their duties with all .possible solemnity and
reverence is the object of the Sodality of Saint John Berchmans. This Sodality was founded by Father Vincent
Bastile, S.J., who presented a Petition to His Holiness, Pius IX that it be
approved and enriched by special privileges and indulgences. In an audience granted on 21st September,
1865, Pope Pius IX gave his approval to the Sodality and granted the following
Indulgences, applicable to the Holy Souls: A Plenary Indulgence on the day of admission
to the .Sodality, and also on the Feast of Saint John Berchmans, 26th November,
on the usual conditions. A Plenary
Indulgence on each of the five Sundays that precede the Feast of Saint John
Berchmans, in remembrance of the five years which he spent in the religious life.
An Indulgence of 100 days for each time
a Sodalist serves Mass, or makes a genuflection with due reverence in the
church, or behaves himself with religious modesty therein. An indulgence of seven years to such Sodalists
as shall recite the five prayers in honour of Saint John Berchmans. In addition the Holy Father granted that this
Sodality can be established in any place, by any priest, secular or religious,
with the approbation of the Ordinary.
Nihil
Obstat:
Carolus
Doyle, S.J.
Censor
Theol. Deput.
Impriimi
Potest:
EDUARDUS,
Archiep. Dublinen.,
Hiberniae Primes,
Dublini, die 25° Octobris 1935.
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