Saint John Berchmans
Also known as
- Jan Berchmans
- 13 August
- 26 November on some calendars
- 27 November (Jesuits)
Profile
Son of a shoemaker, and one of five children, three of whom entered religious life. John had great devotion to his position as an altar boy. He spent much of his time caring for his mother, who was in poor health. Jesuit noviate in 1616, deciding to become a Jesuit after reading the life of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga. Student at the Jesuit College at Malines, Belgium. Studied philosophy in Rome. John had a dream of helping and teaching multi-lingual migrants, and he studied all the chief languages of Europe. He wanted to work in China after ordination. He died of unknown causes following his participation in a public debate defending the faith, and while clutching his rosary, crucifix, and rules of his order; he did not live to be ordained.
John Berchmans was not noted for extraordinary feats of holiness or austerity, nor did he found orders or churches or work flashy miracles. He made kindness, courtesy, and constant fidelity an important part of his holiness. The path to holiness can lie in the ordinary rather than the extraordinary.
Born
- standing with hands clasped, holding his crucifix, his book of rules, and his rosary
- the Rule of Saint Ignatius, a cross, and rosary
Readings
Holy Mary, Mother of God and Immaculate Virgin, I choose thee this day for my Queen, Patroness, and Advocate, and I firmly purpose and resolve never to abandon thee, nor say, nor do anything against the honor which is due to thee, nor suffer those under my charge to say or do anything against thee. Receive me, therefore, I beseech thee as thy servant forever, assist me in my actions and forsake me not at the hour of my death. Amen. – act of consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary which Saint John Berchmans used to recite every day
Saint John Berchmans, my most loving patron, seraph of charity, I rejoice with you at the ardent fire of charity, which kept your pure and innocent heart always at peace and united to God; I humbly pray thee, obtain for me such ardor of divine love that it may remove from my heart every inordinate earthly affection, destroy my evil tendencies, and cause me in all my actions to be prompted by the purest intention: All for the greater glory of God!
Pray for us, Saint John Berchmans, That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Grant thy servants we beseech Thee, O Lord, God, to imitate those examples of innocence and fidelity in thy service by which the angelic Saint John consecrated to thee the flower of his youth, through Christ our Lord. Amen. One Our Father, One Hail Mary, and Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. – prayer of the Church to Saint John Berchmans
O Glorious Saint John Berchmans, I most earnestly beseech and implore thee, through the love thou didst bear to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, deign to be mindful of me, a miserable sinner, before the throne of God, that I and those for whom I offer this prayer (or this Novena), may through thy merits and powerful intercession be preserved from all evil of soul and body, may advance in all virtue and good works and obtain our special requests. Amen. – prayer in honor of Saint John Berchmans
O most devout Saint! model of fervent prayer! I beg thee by thy tender devotion to the most Holy Mother of God, and to the Angelic Saint Aloysius to obtain for me the grace to foster and to increase within myself a like devotion, that honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Aloysius here on earth, I may merit hereafter to praise and thank them forever with thee in Heaven. I also earnestly beg of thee to obtain for me through and with them the special grace that I ask in this Novena (name here the favor you desire), if it be for the Glory of God and the good of my soul. – prayer in honor of Saint John Berchmans
O admirable Saint! mirror of modesty, of purity, of regularity, of charity and devotion! I choose thee this day as my special advocate before the Throne of God. – prayer in honor of Saint John Berchmans
MLA Citation
- “Saint John Berchmans“. CatholicSaints.Info. 20 April 2024. Web. 24 April 2024. <>