ST JEROME EMILIANI
Wednesday, February 8, 2023.
Weekday (5)
St. Jerome Emiliani, P
NOTE: THE READINGS ARE PROPER TO THE CONGREGATION'S CELEBRATION.
Psalm. 112
Second Reading. Ephesians. 3: 14-19
Gospel. Matt. 19: 13-21
TOPIC FOR REFLECTION
ST JEROME EMILIANI: FATHER OF ORPHANS AND FOUNDER OF SOMASCAN FATHERS.
We the Somascan Fathers all over the world celebrate the Feast of our founder today. It is a great joy in our hearts, and indeed we are glad.
WHO IS ST. JEROME?
St Jerome Emiliani is known as the father of orphans, and founder of the Somascan Fathers. He is a saint of mercy and love. He was born in 1486 in Venice to the family of Angelo and Leonora Emiliani in Italy. In 1511, as a military, he was captured, imprisoned on August 27, 1511, and with the help of Mother Mary, he was released exactly one month after on September 27th, 1511. This date of his release is dedicated to our Lady mother of Orphans in the congregation.
He is the last son of four children, all boys: they are Luke, Charles, Mark, and Jerome. He lost his father when he was 10 years old.
In 1514, his mother died, and in 1519, his brother Luke also died, leaving three (3) children which he took custody. Similarly, in 1526, his brother Mark also died, now left with all the children of his two dead brothers to cater for, and indeed, he started the orphanage with his nephews and nieces. He was never married, and neither did he become a priest.
So, between 1524-27, he experienced conversion. In. 1528, he gave up all his material goods and dedicated his life to serving the poor, especially the sick and orphaned children.
In 1532, he started the activities of the orphans, and in 1534, he founded the company of the servants of the poor, which was the original name of the congregation.
In 1537, he was attacked with plague when he was assisting the plague victims, he fell ill and died at Somasca.
Therefore, it is in Somalia where he died on February 8th that the company's name was changed from the former to be called Somascan.
ABOUT OUR NOBLE CONGREGATION
After the death of St. Jerome in 1537, people started calling his followers the fathers of Somasca, and gradually the name starts to spread which overshadowed the previous name, servants of the poor.
Therefore, a request was made to the Holy Father, and the first Pontifical Approval of the congregation was in 1540, while the final approval came up in the year 1568 by Pope Paul III with the official name, CLERIC REGULAR OF SOMASCA (CRS).
More so, as fate would have it, exactly 200 years after the congregation was given a pontifical approval, St. Jerome Emiliani was canonized.
THE ACTIVITIES OF OUR FOUNDER/CONGREGATION
St. Jerome was the person who started the pedagogical method of teaching children catechism in the form of question and answer.
St. Jerome was going about in search of food to feed the children he lived with. So, to date, we the Somascan Fathers, anywhere we are, build a home for the boys, we do not call it an orphanage home, due to the psychological effect it may have on them.
We live with and dine with the boys, while the girl's wings are also attended to by the female animators.
St Jerome's motto is: TO LIVE AND DIE WITH THEM (Children).
My dearly beloved in Christ, kindly rejoice with us and also pray for us so that the work of mercy of St. Jerome Emiliani may spread throughout the World.
Peace ✌️ be with you.
Rev. Fr. Segun Oladeji, CRS.
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