St. John Berchmans – Patron Saint of Altar Servers

St. John Berchmans Biography

St. John Berchmans was a Jesuit seminarian who lived in the 17th century. He was born in 1599 in the town of Diest in present-day Belgium. From a young age, John showed a strong devotion to God and a desire to become a priest. At the age of 12, he entered the Jesuit college in Mechelen, where he excelled academically and spiritually.

John was known for his deep piety and his devotion to the Eucharist. He also had a great love for the Virgin Mary and would often recite the rosary. In 1615, he was sent to study in Rome, where he continued to live a devout life. He was known for his humility and charity, and he would often visit the poor and the sick in the hospitals.

Despite his strong faith and good character, John faced many trials during his time in the seminary. He was prone to sickness and had a difficult time adapting to the rigors of the seminary. He was also homesick and longed to return to his family in Belgium. Nevertheless, he persevered and remained determined to become a priest.

In 1619, while still a seminarian, John died at the age of 20. His death was a great loss to the Jesuits and to all who knew him. His body was buried in the church of St. Ignatius in Rome, and his tomb soon became a place of pilgrimage for those who sought his intercession.

His sainthood cause was opened in 1886 by the Belgian Province of the Society of Jesus, and he was canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1888. He is widely venerated among Catholics, and is often invoked as a patron saint of students, particularly those in Jesuit schools.

Many miracles have been attributed to his intercession, and his tomb in Rome remains a popular pilgrimage site. He is often depicted in art holding a book, as he was known for his devotion to study and learning. He is also often depicted holding a rosary, as he was known for his devotion to the Virgin Mary.

In the Catholic Church, the feast day of St. John Berchmans is celebrated on August 13, the anniversary of his death. Many parishes, colleges, and seminaries bear his name, and he is remembered for his deep piety, humility, and devotion to God and the Church. His legacy continues to inspire Catholics of all ages to live a life of holiness and service to others.

St John Berchmans is still being widely venerated in Catholic circles and his life, writings and devotion continues to have a profound impact on Catholics. Even in the 21st century, devotion to St. John Berchmans continue to be significant at his birth place, Belgium, and in the other parts of the world where he is venerated, including in the United States, Latin America, and Africa.

The Life of St. John Berchmans

Saint John Berchmans was born on March 13, 1599. When John was but seven years old, the parish Priest remarked with pleasure that the Lord would work wonders in the soul of the child. John’s mother was stricken with a long and serious illness when he was nine years old, and he spent several hours daily by her bedside, consoling her with his affecttionate, though serious words.

A Great Love for God

St. John Berchmans was naturally kind, gentle and affectionate; was endowed with a keen intellect and a retentive memory. What distinguished him most, however, was his piety. When hardly seven years old he was accustomed to rise early and serve two or three Masses with the greatest fervor. St. JohnBerchmans attended religious instructions and listened to Sunday sermons with the deepest recollection; made pilgrimages to the sanctuary of Mont a few miles from his home, reciting the rosary as he was absorbed in meditation. When he entered the Jesuit college at Mechlin he was enrolled in the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin and resolved to recite her Office daily.

Towards the end of his rhetoric course, he felt a distinct call to the Society of Jesus. Saint John Berchmans overcame the opposition of his family, and was received into the novitiate at Mechlin on September 24, 1616. Two years later he was sent to Antwerp to study philosophy. After a few weeks, he journeyed by foot to Rome to continue the same study. He arrived at the Roman College on December 31, 1618. Early in August, 1621, he was selected by the Prefect of Studies to take part in a philosophical disputation at the Greek College which was under the charge of the Dominicans.

Upon returning to his college he was seized with a violent fever, from which he died on August 13th, at the age of twenty-two years and five months. He was accustomed to say, “If I do not become a Saint when I am young, I shall never become one”. He always conformed his will to that of his Superiors and to the Rules. “My penance”, he would say, “is to live the common life…. I will pay the greatest attention to the least inspiration of God.” He was most faithful in the performance of all his duties. When he died, many people came to see him and to invoke his intercession. He was canonized by Pope Leo XIII in 1888

Popular St. John Berchmans Medal and St. John Berchmans Rosary

Prayers to St. John Berchmans

Prayer to be like St. John Berchmans

Lord our God, you invite us always to give you our love and you are pleased with a cheerful giver. Give us a youthful spirit, to be like St. John, always eager to seek you and to do your will. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

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Prayer for the intercession of St. John Berchmans

Lord our God, you invite us always to give you our love and you are pleased with a cheerful giver. Give us a youthful spirit, to be like St. John, always eager to seek you and to do your will. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

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Prayer to St. John Berchmans for Altar Servers

To be Christ’s page at the altar, To serve Him freely there. Where even the Angels falter, Bowed low in reverent prayer. To touch the throne most holy, To hand the gifts for the feast, To see Him meekly, lowly, Descend at the word of the priest. To hear man’s poor petition, To sound the silver bell, When He in sweet submission, Comes down with us to dwell. No grander mission surely Could Saints or men enjoy; No heart should love more purely, Than yours my altar boy. God bless you, lad, forever, And keep you in His care, And Guard you that you never Belie the robes you wear. For white bespeaks untainted A heart both tried and true; And red tolls love the sainted The holy martyrs knew. Throughout life, then, endeavor God’s graces to employ; And be in heart forever A holy altar boy.

Prayer to St. John Berchmans

Dear St. John Berchmans, you were known for your deep devotion to the Lord and your unwavering commitment to a life of holiness. I turn to you today, asking for your intercession and guidance as I seek to live my own life in a manner that is pleasing to God.

Help me to grow in my love for the Lord, and to deepen my own relationship with Him. Give me the strength to resist temptation and to remain steadfast in my faith, even in the face of adversity. And may I live my life in a manner that brings glory to God and brings others closer to Him. Amen.

A prayer for the Devotion of St. John Berchmans

Dear St. John Berchmans, I pray for your devotion today, that I may be inspired by your unwavering commitment to the Lord. Help me to grow in my love for God, and to deepen my own relationship with Him.

Give me the grace to resist temptation and to remain steadfast in my faith, even in the face of difficulty. And may I live my life in a manner that brings others closer to the Lord, and that brings glory to His name. Amen.

A prayer for the Intercession of St. John Berchmans

Dear St. John Berchmans, I turn to you today in need of your intercession. You were known for your deep devotion to the Lord, and I ask that you intercede for me and for all those in need of your help.

Please pray for those who are struggling in their faith, that they may find comfort and hope in their trials. Pray for those who are seeking a deeper relationship with God, that they may find what they are looking for. And pray for all of us, that we may grow in our love for the Lord and deepen our own relationships with Him. Amen.

St. John Berchmans: Patron Saint of Altar Servers

St. John Berchmans is the patron saint of altar servers. This means that he is the chosen intercessor, or spiritual helper, for people in this particular profession or vocation. This choice is based on his life and the examples he set that make him a model for altar servers and others who share his values.

St. John Berchmans was born in 1599 in Belgium and was known for his devotion to the Eucharist and his love for the priesthood. He studied at the Jesuit college in Brussels, where he was known for his exceptional piety and discipline. He was also known for his devotion to Mary, the mother of Jesus, and for his practice of spending hours in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

St. John Berchmans’ devotion to the Eucharist and his love for the priesthood make him an ideal patron for altar servers. Altar servers assist the priest during Mass, and their role is to serve at the altar, carry the processional cross and candles, hold the book for the priest, and assist with the preparation of the altar. St. John Berchmans’ example of devotion and dedication to the sacraments and his love for the priesthood serve as a model for altar servers and inspire them to perform their duties with reverence, respect, and devotion.

In addition to his devotion to the Eucharist and the priesthood, St. John Berchmans is also a model for altar servers in his love for Mary and his devotion to her. As an altar server, one must have a deep love for and devotion to Mary, and St. John Berchmans serves as a perfect example of this.

In conclusion, St. John Berchmans is the patron saint of altar servers because of his devotion to the Eucharist, love for the priesthood, and his dedication to Mary. Through his example, altar servers can be inspired to serve with reverence, respect, and devotion, and to deepen their own devotion to the sacraments and love for the Church.” “

Reflection on the feast day of St. John Berchmans

The feast day of St. John Berchmans is celebrated on August 13th.

St. John Berchmans was a Jesuit seminarian who lived in the 17th century. He is known for his deep faith, devotion to God, and his dedication to his studies. He is considered a model of virtue and holiness for young people, and is the patron saint of altar servers.

On the feast day of St. John Berchmans, we remember his deep faith, devotion to God, and his dedication to his studies. He serves as a powerful example of how one can live a holy and virtuous life, even at a young age.

One of the things that stands out about St. John Berchmans is his devotion to God. He had a deep love for God and a strong desire to serve God through the priesthood. He is a reminder to us that no matter what our age, we can live a life of holiness and devotion to God.

As we celebrate the feast day of St. John Berchmans, let us take inspiration from his example of deep faith, devotion to God, and dedication to studies. Let us be reminded that, as followers of Christ, we are called to live a life of holiness and virtue, and that this is possible at any age.

In addition, let us also remember St. John Berchmans as the patron saint of altar servers, and to reflect on the role of altar servers in the Church and how they assist in the Liturgy, and how they can be an inspiration for us to serve God in whatever role we are given.

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Also check out our handmade St. John Berchmans Medal and St. John Berchmans Rosary and St. John Berchmans Rosary Bracelet.