This observance appears in the catholic calendar with liturgical color green .
Saint Jerome Emilian is revered as the patron saint of orphans, known for founding the Somascan Fathers and dedicating his life to caring for abandoned children and the poor.
Saint Jerome Emilian, born Girolamo Emiliani in Venice in 1486, initially pursued a military career before undergoing a profound conversion experience while imprisoned as a prisoner of war. Following his release, he dedicated himself entirely to charitable work, particularly caring for orphans, abandoned youth, and the sick during a period of widespread famine and plague in Italy. He established orphanages and homes, teaching vocational skills and catechism, which eventually led to the formation of the Clerics Regular of Somasca, also known as the Somascan Fathers, a religious congregation committed to the care and education of the poor and neglected, thereby profoundly impacting Christian social outreach and fostering compassion for the most vulnerable.
Girolamo Emiliani, known to us as Saint Jerome Emilian, was born into a noble Venetian family in 1486. His early life was typical of a young man of his social standing, marked by a pursuit of military honor. He served as a soldier in the Venetian army, defending his city-state against its adversaries. However, his life took a dramatic and unforeseen turn during a conflict with the League of Cambrai. In 1511, while defending the fortress of Castelnuovo, Girolamo was captured and imprisoned in a dungeon. It was within the confines of this bleak cell that he experienced a profound spiritual awakening. Faced with despair and the uncertainty of his fate, he turned to prayer, specifically invoking the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This intense period of reflection and prayer led to a deep conversion, fundamentally altering the trajectory of his life. Upon his miraculous release, which he attributed to Mary's intercession, Girolamo made a solemn vow to dedicate his life to God and the service of others.
Returning to Venice, Jerome, now deeply committed to his new path, began to live a life of austere piety and radical charity. He renounced his former worldly ambitions and embraced a life of voluntary poverty, giving away his possessions and donning simple clothes. Venice at the time, like many European cities, was frequently afflicted by plague, famine, and social upheaval. It was amidst this suffering that Jerome found his mission. He dedicated himself tirelessly to nursing the sick, particularly those afflicted by the plague, and to caring for the destitute and abandoned. He walked the streets, ministering to the dying and burying the dead, often using his own hands to carry the bodies of plague victims. His compassionate actions and selflessness quickly drew attention and admiration, marking him as a man driven by an extraordinary love for his neighbor.
While his initial works of mercy extended to all who suffered, Jerome's heart was particularly moved by the plight of orphaned and abandoned children. In the wake of wars and epidemics, countless children were left without parents, vulnerable to exploitation, starvation, and moral corruption. Recognizing this immense need, Jerome began to gather these children, providing them with shelter, food, and clothing. His first orphanage was established in Venice, a pioneering effort in an era when organized social welfare for children was largely nonexistent. He didn't merely offer physical sustenance; he understood the holistic needs of these young souls. He provided them with religious instruction, teaching them the catechism, and, crucially, equipped them with practical skills through vocational training, aiming to enable them to become self-sufficient and productive members of society.
Jerome's work soon extended beyond the confines of Venice. Driven by a fervent desire to alleviate suffering wherever he found it, he traveled to other northern Italian cities, including Verona, Brescia, and Bergamo, replicating his model of care for neglected children. In each location, he established new orphanages and homes, often converting existing structures or receiving donations from benevolent individuals. His tireless efforts and the evident positive impact on the lives of these children attracted companions who shared his vision and felt called to join him in his mission.
The growing number of children and helpers necessitated a more organized structure for his charitable endeavors. In 1532, Jerome, along with his companions, formally founded the Clerics Regular of Somasca, commonly known as the Somascan Fathers. The congregation took its name from the small village of Somasca, near Bergamo, where Jerome established their motherhouse and a significant orphanage. The Somascan Fathers were committed to continuing Jerome's legacy of caring for orphans, the poor, and the sick, and to providing Christian education. Their rule emphasized poverty, humility, and absolute trust in Divine Providence. Jerome served as the first superior of the new order, guiding its members in their spiritual and practical duties, instilling in them his profound commitment to the vulnerable and his deep devotion to Christ and His Church.
Saint Jerome Emilian's life was a testament to transformative faith and boundless charity. He died on February 8, 1537, in Somasca, having contracted a plague while ministering to the sick. His death was a direct consequence of his selfless dedication to those he served, mirroring the very commitment he asked of his followers. His work laid foundational stones for organized social welfare within the Church, particularly for children. The Somascan Fathers continued to thrive and expand their mission, carrying on his charism of compassionate service and education. Jerome Emilian was beatified in 1747 by Pope Benedict XIV and canonized in 1767 by Pope Clement XIII, cementing his place in the Church's calendar as a true saint. He is justly honored as the patron saint of orphans, embodying the biblical call to care for the least among us and demonstrating how a single life, transformed by grace, can bring immense light and hope to the world. His feast day, commemorated on February 8th, serves as a reminder of his enduring legacy of charity and his profound impact on Christian social responsibility.
Before he became the compassionate father to countless orphans, Girolamo Emiliani was a soldier, a man of worldly ambition and martial pride. In 1511, during the tumultuous wars that swept through northern Italy, Girolamo, then serving the Venetian Republic, found himself in a dire predicament. He was captured by the forces of the League of Cambrai while defending the fortress of Castelnuovo and cast into a dark, suffocating dungeon. The air was thick with despair, the stone walls cold and unyielding, and the clanking of his chains echoed his hopelessness.
In that profound darkness, stripped of all earthly comforts and military glory, Girolamo found himself utterly alone, save for his thoughts and the gnawing fear of his impending end. It was there, in the depths of his misery, that a flicker of divine light pierced through his hardened heart. He, who had perhaps rarely knelt in true humility, now prostrated himself, not before a conqueror, but before the Divine. With fervent tears and a contrite spirit, he pleaded for deliverance, turning especially to the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose intercession he had heard spoken of since childhood. He promised, with all the sincerity of a man facing the abyss, that if he were freed, his life would no longer be his own, but entirely consecrated to God and the service of others.
And then, a profound stillness settled over the dungeon. Though the precise nature of the miracle remains a matter of pious tradition, it is said that his chains miraculously fell away, and the prison doors, previously impenetrable, opened before him. Girolamo walked out a free man, not merely from physical captivity, but from the spiritual bondage of his former life. He left behind the soldier's uniform and the pursuit of earthly renown, emerging from that dungeon a transformed soul. He immediately journeyed to a church, where he hung his freed chains before the altar of the Blessed Mother, a permanent testament to his miraculous liberation and his solemn vow. From that moment, his life became a ceaseless act of charity, a living embodiment of the compassion he had sought and received, especially for the most vulnerable children, forever marking him as Saint Jerome Emilian, the father of orphans.
March 15, 2002
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Today, continuing our catecheses on the figures of saints, we pause to reflect on St Jerome Emiliani, founder of the Congregation of the Clerics Regular of Somasca, better known as the Somascan Fathers. He was born in Venice in 1486, the son of a noble family. His youth was not particularly virtuous; he was rather impulsive and restless, as he himself admitted when he was about 25. He chose the military career and in 1511, while defending the fortress of Castelnuovo in Treviso, he was captured and imprisoned. It was in the dungeon that he underwent a profound conversion. There he experienced a new light and entrusted himself to the Virgin Mary, to whom he had been devoted since childhood. He was miraculously freed and hung the chains of his prison cell on the altar of Our Lady in the church of Treviso, where he had been baptized. This was a symbol of a new life.
After this, he returned to Venice, where he studied theology and began to dedicate himself to the works of charity, especially to the sick and the poor. In 1528, a terrible plague broke out in Venice, followed by a severe famine. Jerome, who had meanwhile been ordained a priest, gave himself completely to the care of the sick, even burying the dead. He began to take in the many orphans who were wandering through the city, establishing homes for them, the first of which was opened in his own house. He was joined by other collaborators, and little by little, a new family grew up around him, committed to helping the needy.
His example quickly spread to other cities in northern Italy. In Brescia, he founded a home for orphans, and then also in Bergamo and Milan. He dedicated himself in a special way to the formation of young people, providing them with a spiritual and human education, but also with professional skills, so that they could become independent and integrated into society. He also established a home for former prostitutes, seeking to offer them a new life and a path of rehabilitation. He was a very concrete man, who understood the problems and sought the means to solve them.
In 1532, St Jerome Emiliani gathered his collaborators in Somasca, a small village near Bergamo, where he established the first mother house of the new religious family, which would later take the name of Clerics Regular of Somasca. The members of the new Congregation took a vow to devote themselves totally to the service of the poor, especially orphans, and to live in poverty, humility and absolute trust in Divine Providence. Their life was marked by intense prayer, community life, and apostolic activity, always focused on the care and education of the most disadvantaged. The Somascan Fathers were recognized by the Holy See in 1540, three years after Jerome's death.
St Jerome Emiliani's spirituality was rooted in a profound love for God and a boundless charity for neighbor, particularly for the most vulnerable. He saw Christ in the face of every orphan, every sick person, every poor person. His motto, which became the motto of the Somascan Fathers, was: "Charity, Unity, Humility." He taught his followers to live in complete abandonment to God's will and to trust in His providence, even in the most difficult circumstances. He emphasized the importance of humility, recognizing one's own limitations and dependence on God, and unity, fostering a fraternal spirit among the members of the community.
He died on February 8, 1537, in Somasca, having contracted the plague while caring for the sick. He was canonized in 1767 by Pope Clement XIII. His feast day is celebrated on February 8th. Saint Jerome Emiliani is a luminous example of Christian charity and a model for all who seek to serve Christ in the poor and neglected. His legacy continues to inspire countless individuals and institutions to dedicate themselves to the care of orphans and those in need, fostering a civilization of love and solidarity. He reminds us that true religion is to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world (cf. James 1:27).
The universal liturgical commemoration of Saint Jerome Emilian's feast day on February 8th within the Roman Catholic Church, marked by specific prayers and readings.
Official recognition of his sanctity and his significant contributions to Christian charity and the care of the vulnerable.
A pious practice among the faithful to offer special prayers and intentions for orphans, abandoned children, and those dedicated to their care, invoking Saint Jerome Emilian's intercession.
His historical role as the patron saint of orphans and his life's work in establishing homes and providing for them.
The ongoing charitable and educational work of the Clerics Regular of Somasca (Somascan Fathers), the religious congregation he founded, which continues his mission of caring for vulnerable youth and the poor worldwide.
Direct continuation of his founding charism and dedication to serving the poor and neglected, especially through institutions like orphanages and schools.
An emphasis on vocational training and practical education for underprivileged youth within institutions inspired by Saint Jerome Emilian's approach, a key aspect of his original mission.
His innovative approach to not only shelter but also educate and equip orphans with practical skills for self-sufficiency and moral formation.
Saint Josephine Bakhita is revered as a powerful witness to human dignity and freedom, known for her journey from brutal slavery in Sudan to finding spiritual liberation and serving as a Canossian Sister, inspiring hope and resilience for all who suffer.
Saint Josephine Bakhita, born in Sudan around 1869, endured the profound injustice of being kidnapped and sold into slavery multiple times during her childhood, experiencing immense suffering and trauma. After being brought to Italy, she found freedom and embraced the spiritual path, choosing to dedicate her life to God as a Canossian Sister, where she served for over 50 years with joy and humility as a cook, sacristan, and doorkeeper. Her life story, a testament to enduring faith, forgiveness, and the triumph of the human spirit over oppression, has made her a powerful symbol of hope and a patron for survivors of human trafficking, embodying the transformative power of divine love and grace.
Saint Josephine Bakhita, a radiant figure of faith and resilience, was born around 1869 in Olgossa, a village in the Darfur region of Sudan, into a prosperous and respected family of the Daju people. Her early childhood was marked by innocence and peace, spent in the care of her loving parents and siblings. However, this tranquility was shattered at the tender age of seven or eight when she was brutally abducted by Arab slave traders while playing in a field near her home. The trauma of this event was so profound that she forgot her birth name, and the kidnappers gave her the name "Bakhita," which ironically means "fortunate" in Arabic, a stark contrast to the horrific ordeal she was about to endure. This abduction marked the beginning of a harrowing journey through the brutal realities of the 19th-century slave trade, stripping her of her identity and freedom.
Over the next twelve years, Bakhita was sold and resold five times, enduring unimaginable cruelty and suffering at the hands of various masters. She experienced severe physical and psychological abuse, including brutal beatings and ritual scarification, practices common among some slave owners to mark their human property. These deep scars, both visible and invisible, bore witness to the profound injustice and dehumanization she suffered. Despite the constant terror and degradation, a flicker of hope and an innate dignity persisted within her, even as she moved from one oppressive situation to another across Sudan, with each new owner bringing fresh torment and despair. Her existence was one of constant fear and longing for liberation that seemed unattainable.
Her destiny began to shift in 1883 when she was purchased by Callisto Legnani, the Italian consul in Khartoum. Unlike her previous owners, Legnani treated her with a degree of kindness, and when the Mahdist revolt erupted, forcing him to leave Sudan, he brought Bakhita with him to Italy. In Italy, she was given to Augusto Michieli, a wealthy merchant, who then entrusted her to the care of the Canossian Sisters in Venice in 1888. It was within the nurturing environment of the Canossian convent that Bakhita first encountered the Catholic faith. The Sisters' compassion and the teachings about a loving God who valued every person, regardless of their past, deeply resonated with her broken spirit, offering a stark contrast to the life of cruelty she had known.
As Bakhita learned more about Christianity, she felt a profound call to embrace this new faith. She began her catechumenate, a period of instruction and preparation for baptism. When Michieli's wife decided to take Bakhita back to Africa, Bakhita refused to go, asserting her newfound freedom and desire to remain with the Sisters and pursue her spiritual journey. This led to a landmark legal dispute, where the Cardinal Patriarch of Venice intervened, and an Italian court ruled that slavery was illegal in Italy, thus declaring Bakhita a free woman. On January 9, 1890, she was baptized, confirmed, and received her First Holy Communion, receiving the name Josephine Margaret. This day was a profound spiritual rebirth, marking her liberation not only from physical bondage but also from the spiritual chains of despair.
Inspired by the profound joy and peace she found in her faith, Josephine felt called to consecrate her life entirely to God. On December 7, 1893, she entered the novitiate of the Canossian Daughters of Charity in Venice, and on December 8, 1896, she made her perpetual vows. For the next 50 years, Sister Josephine Bakhita lived a life of humble service within the convent at Schio, Vicenza. She became known as the "little brown sister," performing various simple duties such as cooking, sewing, embroidery, and serving as a doorkeeper. Her gentle demeanor, constant smile, and deep devotion endeared her to everyone she met. She became a beloved figure, often sharing her incredible story of suffering and redemption, inspiring many with her unwavering faith and profound capacity for forgiveness.
In her later years, despite suffering from a debilitating illness that confined her to a wheelchair, Sister Josephine Bakhita continued to radiate joy and spiritual strength. She became a living testament to Christ's liberating power, often repeating, "Be good, love the Lord, pray for those who do not know Him. What a great grace it is to know God!" She passed away peacefully on February 8, 1947, with her last words reportedly being, "Our Lady! Our Lady!" Her sanctity was recognized swiftly, leading to her beatification by Pope John Paul II on May 17, 1992, and her canonization on October 1, 2000. Saint Josephine Bakhita stands as a powerful patron against human trafficking, a beacon of hope for all victims of oppression, and a profound example of Christian forgiveness, resilience, and the transformative power of God's grace, reminding the Church that true freedom is found in Christ.
Among the many remarkable facets of Saint Josephine Bakhita’s life, perhaps none shines brighter than her profound capacity for forgiveness and her unwavering joy, even when recalling the unspeakable torments of her past. After years of brutal slavery, marked by five sales and countless indignities, Bakhita found her freedom and, more importantly, her faith in Italy. She entered the Canossian Sisters, embracing a life of joyful service to God. Yet, the scars of her past, both physical and emotional, remained.
One day, a visitor to the convent, perhaps curious about the 'little brown sister' whose story of survival was becoming known, asked her about her enslavers and torturers. How could she possibly speak of such people without bitterness, without anger? The question hung in the air, awaiting a response that many might expect to be filled with righteous indignation or profound sorrow.
But Sister Josephine Bakhita, with her characteristic gentle smile, offered a reply that stunned and inspired. She looked at the visitor, her eyes reflecting not the shadows of her past, but the radiant light of Christ's love. She spoke softly, yet with an conviction that resonated deep within the listener's soul: "If I were to meet those who kidnapped me and even those who tortured me, I would kneel and kiss their hands, because, if these things had not happened, I would not have become a Christian and a religious today."
This was not a statement born of naivete or forgetfulness of pain, but of a profound spiritual understanding. Bakhita saw divine providence even in the darkest chapters of her life. She recognized that through the crucible of suffering, God had led her to freedom, to faith, and ultimately, to a life consecrated to Him. Her words were a testament to a heart utterly transformed by grace, a soul that had found such immense peace and joy in Christ that it could forgive the unforgivable and even thank God for the very trials that had brought her to Him. It is a powerful reminder that even from the depths of human cruelty, God can draw forth the most extraordinary sanctity and the most profound expressions of love and forgiveness.
Circa 1910-1920s (as dictated)
When I arrived in Italy, my life began anew. I was living with Signora Michieli and her daughter, who treated me well, not like a slave, but like a member of their family. But it was when they placed me with the Canossian Sisters in Venice that my true journey began. The Sisters were so kind, so patient with me. They taught me about God, a God I had never truly known. In Sudan, I had heard of a great Spirit, but no one had ever explained to me who He was, or that He was a Father who loved me. The Sisters taught me that God is our Father, and that we are His children, and that we must love Him above all else. They told me about Jesus, His Son, who died for us, and about Our Lady, who is our Mother. These truths, simple yet profound, began to heal the deep wounds in my heart. I felt a great peace, a joy I had never experienced before. My soul found rest in the knowledge of this loving God. I longed to be baptized, to become a child of God in a true sense.
Then came the time when Signora Michieli wished to take me back to Africa. But my heart had found its home. I did not want to leave the Sisters, nor this God I had come to know and love. I had found my freedom, not just from human masters, but from the darkness of not knowing God. I told them I did not want to go. This caused a great stir. The Patriarch of Venice intervened, and a legal case ensued. It was decided that in Italy, slavery was not recognized, and I was free. Free! It was a word that echoed in my soul, bringing tears to my eyes. But true freedom, I realized, was not just from earthly chains; it was the freedom to choose God, to give my life entirely to Him. On January 9, 1890, I received Baptism, Confirmation, and my First Holy Communion. It was the most beautiful day of my life. I was truly a child of God, and my heart overflowed with gratitude. I knew then that my path was to serve this God who had loved me so much, who had brought me from slavery to such grace. I desired to become a Canossian Sister, to dedicate my life to Him, to share the joy I had found with others, especially those who still suffered in darkness.
October 1, 2000
The life of Josephine Bakhita, born in Sudan in 1869 and who died in Schio (Vicenza) in 1947, tells us that suffering can be transformed into profound joy. In fact, her life was an extraordinary parable of the human and Christian journey towards freedom and sanctity. Kidnapped at the age of nine, she was subjected to the harsh experience of slavery. She suffered the ignominy of being bought and sold five times, and was subjected to cruel physical torture. She lost her very name, which her tormentors replaced with 'Bakhita', meaning 'fortunate'. But this name became a prophecy of her spiritual journey, as she was truly fortunate to encounter the liberating love of Christ. This love, which she experienced through the kindness of the Michieli family and then the Canossian Sisters, changed her life forever.
Her story is a living witness to the fact that Christ's redemption reaches into the deepest roots of human suffering, transforming even the most tragic experiences into a source of hope. Bakhita, having regained her freedom, chose to consecrate herself to God in the Canossian Institute. For over 50 years, she served with humility and joy, performing the most simple tasks in the convent. She was known for her gentle smile and her profound love for Jesus and Mary. She became a living sign of the Father's tenderness, a sister who radiated the joy of the Lord. Her famous words, 'If I were to meet those who kidnapped me and even those who tortured me, I would kneel and kiss their hands, because, if these things had not happened, I would not have become a Christian and a religious today,' reveal the depth of her forgiveness and her heroic love.
In our time, when the tragedy of human trafficking continues to afflict millions of people, Saint Josephine Bakhita stands as an eloquent witness to the universal call to freedom and dignity. Her life reminds us that true liberation is found in Christ, who sets us free from every form of slavery, visible and invisible. She is a model of hope for all those who are exploited and oppressed, and a powerful intercessor for the Church's efforts to combat this grave crime against humanity. Her sanctity, rooted in her profound personal encounter with God's love, shines as a light in the darkness, inviting us to embrace forgiveness, courage, and unconditional trust in Divine Providence. We pray that her example will inspire many to commit themselves to the cause of justice and human solidarity, so that every person may experience the freedom and dignity that is their birthright as children of God.
Observing the International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking.
Saint Josephine Bakhita's life as a survivor of slavery and human trafficking led Pope Francis to designate her feast day as this global day of prayer and action.
Holding special Masses, prayer vigils, and Rosaries for victims and survivors of human trafficking.
Saint Josephine Bakhita's personal experience of slavery makes her a powerful intercessor and patron for those suffering from modern forms of enslavement, inspiring prayers for their freedom and healing.
Promoting educational programs and awareness campaigns in schools and parishes to highlight the issue of modern slavery and human trafficking.
Her compelling life story serves as a poignant example to educate people about the realities of human trafficking and to inspire action against it.
Pilgrimages to Schio, Italy, to visit the convent where Saint Josephine Bakhita lived and served, and to venerate her relics.
Schio was the primary place of her religious life and where she is interred, making it a significant site for devotion and remembrance of her holy life.
This observance appears in the catholic calendar with liturgical color white .