Jerome Emiliani

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Jerome Emiliani (Jerome Aemilian, Hiëronymus Emiliani) (1496–1537) was an Italian humanitarian and saint. He is the patron saint of orphans and founder of the Somaschi Fathers in 1767.

Biography

Emiliani was born at Venice, 1481 as son of Angelo Emiliani (popularly called Miani) and of Eleonore Mauroceni, joined the army, and in 1508 defended Castelnuovo against the League of Cambray. Taken prisoner and miraculously liberated, he made a pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of Treviso, in fulfillment of a vow. He was then appointed podestà (Venetian magistrate) of Castelnuovo, but after a short time returned to Venice to supervise the education of his nephews. All his spare time was devoted to the study of theology and to works of charity.

After his ordination to the priesthood in 1518, the hospitals and the hovels of the poor were his favourite resorts. In the year of plague and famine (1528), he seemed to be everywhere, and showed his zeal especially for the orphans, whose number had so greatly increased. He rented a house for them near the church of St. Rose and, with the assistance of some pious laymen, ministered to their wants. To his charge was also committed the hospital for incurables, founded by St. Cajetan. In 1531 he went to Verona and induced the citizens to build a hospital; at Brescia he erected an orphanage, at Bergamo one for boys and another for girls. Here also he founded the first home for fallen women who wished to do penance.

Two priests, Alessandro Besuzio and Agostino Bariso, now joined him in his labours of charity, and in 1532 Jerome founded a religious society, placing the motherhouse at Somascha, a secluded North Italian hamlet between Milan and Bergamo, after which the members are known as Somaschi. In the rule, Jerome puts down as the principal work of the community the care of orphans, poor, and sick, and demands that dwellings, food and clothing shall bear the mark of religious poverty.

Jerome fell a martyr to his zeal; contracting a disease at Bergamo, he died at Somascha, 8 February, 1537.

Veneration

He was beatified by Benedict XIV in 1747, and canonized by Clement XIII in 1767. The Office and Mass in his honour were approved eight years later.

His feast day, originally on 20 July, is 8 February.

Sources and references

This article incorporates text from the public-domain Catholic Encyclopedia.
His biography was first written by Scipio Albani (1600); another by Andreas Stella (1605). Perhaps the best is by Aug. Tortora (Milan, 1620; in "Acta Sanctorum", February, II, 217 sq.).

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