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Saint Jean Berchmans
Jésuite
(1599-1621)
Ce jeune Saint, patron des novices, naquit à Diest le 13 mars 1599, dans le diocèse de Brabant, en Belgique. De condition modeste, les parents de saint Jean Berchmans étaient profondément chrétiens. Une atmosphère de piété, de foi et de pureté angélique régnait dans leur foyer. C'est au sanctuaire de Notre-Dame de Montaigu que le pieux enfant fit le voeu de chasteté perpétuelle.
A l'âge de seize ans, une charité anonyme lui permit d'entrer au collège des Jésuites de Malines. En lisant les écrits du bienheureux Pierre Canisius et la vie de saint Louis de Gonzague mort vingt-cinq ans auparavant, Jean Berchmans se sentit attiré vers la Compagnie de Jésus. Il obtint difficilement le consentement de son père qui fondait sur lui ses plus belles espérances.
Entré au noviciat de Malines, Jean s'y distingua par sa grande fidélité à observer la Règle et par une singulière amabilité de caractère. Dans le procès de sa canonisation, les témoins ont déclaré ne jamais l'avoir vu enfreindre une seule de ses Règles. «Plutôt mourir, disait-il, que de transgresser la moindre Règle.» Accomplir les actions communes d'une manière non commune, telle fut la ligne de conduite à laquelle le saint novice demeura toujours fidèle.
Son exercice le plus cher était de faire le catéchisme aux petits enfants pauvres. A son édifiante piété, il alliait une gaîté qui charmait tous ceux qui avaient quelques rapports avec lui. Sa charité prévenante, son caractère doux et enjoué, sa fidélité absolue à toutes les exigences de la Règle le firent surnommer par les novices: "l'Ange de la maison" et "le Saint joyeux". Celui qui avait écrit: «Si je ne deviens pas un saint maintenant que je suis jeune, je ne le serai jamais», poursuivit son idéal de sainteté en vivant chaque journée dans un total abandon à Dieu.
Sa confiance en Marie était sans limite. "Mon frère, confia-t-il un jour à un religieux, dès que j'ai songé à m'avancer dans la perfection, j'ai posé pour fondement de mon édifice, l'amour de la Reine du Ciel..." Devenu veuf, son père entra dans les Ordres et fut ordonné prêtre; vers le même temps, saint Jean Berchmans prononça les voeux traditionnels d'obéissance, pauvreté et chasteté.
Ses supérieurs l'envoyèrent à Rome à pied, en compagnie d'un confrère, pour y compléter ses études. Arrivé au collège romain, le saint religieux occupa la chambre de saint Louis de Gonzague. Berchmans imita ses vertus tout en se montrant moins austère et plus gracieux. L'étude de la philosophie et des mathématiques à laquelle il s'appliqua ne diminua en rien sa ferveur angélique.
C'est à Rome que sonna son départ pour le ciel, à l'âge de vingt-deux ans et cinq mois. «C'est une mort toute divine, mes remèdes n'y peuvent rien», affirmait le médecin impuissant. Saint Jean Berchmans reçut les derniers sacrements avec une indescriptible ferveur. Avant de quitter la terre, le Saint eut à subir une dernière épreuve: le démon l'assaillit à deux reprises à l'article de la mort. Le pieux moribond serra son crucifix dans ses mains défaillantes, son chapelet et son livre des Règles: «Voici mes armes, dit-il, avec ces trois trésors, je me présenterai joyeusement devant Dieu.» Il renouvela ses voeux de religion et recouvra la paix. Prononçant les noms bénis de Jésus et de Marie, saint Jean Berchmans s'endormit paisiblement dans le Seigneur. Le vendredi 13 août 1621, la cloche du collège romain annonçait le départ de cet ange terrestre pour les demeures éternelles. Léon XIII l'a canonisé le 15 janvier 1888.
Résumé O.D.M.
SOURCE : http://magnificat.ca/cal/fr/saints/saint_jean_berchmans.html
SAINT JEAN BERCHMANS, CONFESSEUR.
Jésuite
(1599-1621)
Ce jeune Saint, patron des novices, naquit à Diest le 13 mars 1599, dans le diocèse de Brabant, en Belgique. De condition modeste, les parents de saint Jean Berchmans étaient profondément chrétiens. Une atmosphère de piété, de foi et de pureté angélique régnait dans leur foyer. C'est au sanctuaire de Notre-Dame de Montaigu que le pieux enfant fit le voeu de chasteté perpétuelle.
A l'âge de seize ans, une charité anonyme lui permit d'entrer au collège des Jésuites de Malines. En lisant les écrits du bienheureux Pierre Canisius et la vie de saint Louis de Gonzague mort vingt-cinq ans auparavant, Jean Berchmans se sentit attiré vers la Compagnie de Jésus. Il obtint difficilement le consentement de son père qui fondait sur lui ses plus belles espérances.
Entré au noviciat de Malines, Jean s'y distingua par sa grande fidélité à observer la Règle et par une singulière amabilité de caractère. Dans le procès de sa canonisation, les témoins ont déclaré ne jamais l'avoir vu enfreindre une seule de ses Règles. «Plutôt mourir, disait-il, que de transgresser la moindre Règle.» Accomplir les actions communes d'une manière non commune, telle fut la ligne de conduite à laquelle le saint novice demeura toujours fidèle.
Son exercice le plus cher était de faire le catéchisme aux petits enfants pauvres. A son édifiante piété, il alliait une gaîté qui charmait tous ceux qui avaient quelques rapports avec lui. Sa charité prévenante, son caractère doux et enjoué, sa fidélité absolue à toutes les exigences de la Règle le firent surnommer par les novices: "l'Ange de la maison" et "le Saint joyeux". Celui qui avait écrit: «Si je ne deviens pas un saint maintenant que je suis jeune, je ne le serai jamais», poursuivit son idéal de sainteté en vivant chaque journée dans un total abandon à Dieu.
Sa confiance en Marie était sans limite. "Mon frère, confia-t-il un jour à un religieux, dès que j'ai songé à m'avancer dans la perfection, j'ai posé pour fondement de mon édifice, l'amour de la Reine du Ciel..." Devenu veuf, son père entra dans les Ordres et fut ordonné prêtre; vers le même temps, saint Jean Berchmans prononça les voeux traditionnels d'obéissance, pauvreté et chasteté.
Ses supérieurs l'envoyèrent à Rome à pied, en compagnie d'un confrère, pour y compléter ses études. Arrivé au collège romain, le saint religieux occupa la chambre de saint Louis de Gonzague. Berchmans imita ses vertus tout en se montrant moins austère et plus gracieux. L'étude de la philosophie et des mathématiques à laquelle il s'appliqua ne diminua en rien sa ferveur angélique.
C'est à Rome que sonna son départ pour le ciel, à l'âge de vingt-deux ans et cinq mois. «C'est une mort toute divine, mes remèdes n'y peuvent rien», affirmait le médecin impuissant. Saint Jean Berchmans reçut les derniers sacrements avec une indescriptible ferveur. Avant de quitter la terre, le Saint eut à subir une dernière épreuve: le démon l'assaillit à deux reprises à l'article de la mort. Le pieux moribond serra son crucifix dans ses mains défaillantes, son chapelet et son livre des Règles: «Voici mes armes, dit-il, avec ces trois trésors, je me présenterai joyeusement devant Dieu.» Il renouvela ses voeux de religion et recouvra la paix. Prononçant les noms bénis de Jésus et de Marie, saint Jean Berchmans s'endormit paisiblement dans le Seigneur. Le vendredi 13 août 1621, la cloche du collège romain annonçait le départ de cet ange terrestre pour les demeures éternelles. Léon XIII l'a canonisé le 15 janvier 1888.
Résumé O.D.M.
SOURCE : http://magnificat.ca/cal/fr/saints/saint_jean_berchmans.html
SAINT JEAN BERCHMANS, CONFESSEUR.
L'an 1624. — Jean Berchmans naquit à Distem, ville du Brabant, de parents pieux et honorables. Dès son enfance il se distingua par la pureté de ses moeurs et la candeur de son Aine. Exposé aux séductions du monde, il préserva absolument sa jeunesse de toute légèreté, paraissant ne tendre qu'à Dieu, h qui il voulut s'attacher plus étroite-nient en demandant d'être reçu dans la Société de Jésus. Cette Compagnie venait d'envoyer au ciel Stanislas Kostka et Louis de Gonzague. An noviciat qu'il suivit à Malines, tout ce qui tient à la perfection religieuse fut l'objet de ses soins les plus sérieux et de son application continuelle. lt n'y était que depuis peu de mois, et déjà la maturité de sa vertu l'avait fait juger digne d'être pris pour modèle, non-seulement par ceux de son àge , mais par ceux-même qui étaient filas anciens que lui. On l'envoya à Rome pour ses études, et tandis qu'il était en philosophie au Collége Romain, ses condisciples croyaient avoir retrouvé en lui Louis de Gonzague, tant il en retraçait la sainteté et toute la manière de vivre.
Sa modestie et le soin avec lequel il gardait ses sens étaient admirables. Il se comportait erg tout de telle sorte que, le voyant, on ne craignait pas de dire que si les rcgles de modestie données par saint Ig-nace venaient à se perdre on les retrouverait en Berehmans. Il s'appliquait le tout son pouvoir à garder l'ordre de la maison, et jamais il ne fit rien qui fat tant soit peu en opposition avec la vie d'un vrai religieux. A ce sujet it disait souvent que sa prin cipale pénitence était de se conformer à la vie commune De ce grand nombre de compagnons avec qui il passait ses journées, jamais aucun ne remarqua en lui rien à re, prendre, point de paroles inutiles ou dites d'un ton trop élevé, ni de vivacités ou d'emportements, toutes choses qui cependant sont souvent irréfléchies. Tant de vertus accompagnaient en lui une étonnante douceur de caractère et une beauté naturelle de la figure qui réfiétaient l'innocence de son âme très-pure et inspiraient l'amour de la pudeur et de la chasteté. Le voeu de virginité, qu'il avait fait à Dieu, croit-on, dès son enfance, ne souffrit jamais en lui aucune atteinte.Ce ne fut pas a un âge moins tendre qu'il prit pour mère la très-sainte Vierge, ne négligeant aucun moyen de lui témoigner sa dévotion et la tendresse de son amour. Surtout il se plaisait à honorer son Immaculée Conception, privilège qu'il s'engagea à soutenir toute sa vie par un voeu signé de son sang.
Le zèle des âmes qui l'enflammait, le faisait se réjouir à l'avance des travaux auxquels il espérait pouvoir se livrer pour la gloire de Dieu, quand, à la fleur de sa jeunesse, mûr pour le ciel, il cessa de vivre ici-bas. Consumé par une grave maladie, il se montrait plein de joie au milieu de l'affliction de tous, comme si déjà il eût ganté la douceur de la céleste béatitude. Plus que cela : il consolait ses visiteurs, donnant à chacun les avis convenables pour son progrès dans la vertu; et l'événement montra que Dieu lui avait donné en cet instant le don de prophétie. Il voulut recevoir à genoux le très-saint corps de Jésus-Christ. Presque au moment d'expirer, mettant sur le livre des règles sa croix enveloppée de son Rosaire: Voilà, dit-il, trois choses qui m'ont été bien chères; avec elles je meurs volontiers. II rendit l'âme très-doucement, à l'heure qu'il avait prédite, le 13 août 1621, âgé de 22 ans 5 mois. Ses funérailles se firent au milieu du concours et des louanges de toutes sortes de personnes, dont la plupart étaient persuadées qu'il avait pris son vol pour le ciel et qu'on le compterait un jour parmi les saints. Deux ans furent à peine écoulés que déjà, sous le pape Grégoire XV, on commença le procès relatif à l'examen de ses vertus et vie ses miracles. Eu 1865, Pie IX inscrivit au nombre des bien-heureux ce parfait modèle d'innocence. Le Pape l'a fait un saint dans 1888.
PRATIQUE. — Notre piété n'est véritable que si elle nous corrige de nos défauts et remplit notre cime de vertus.
PRIÈRE. — O Dieu, qui avez fait briller l'admirable sainteté de votre llienbeureux confesseur Jean tiercbmans dans l'observation parfaite des règles religieuses et dans l'innocence de sa vie, accordez-nous par ses mérites et ses prières de pratiquer fidèlement les préceptes (le votre loi et d'ac-,üririr la pureté de l'Aine et du corps, Ainsi soit-il.
St. John Berchmans
St. John Berchmans was born at Diest in Brabant (Modern Belgium), on March March 13, 1599; died at Rome, August 13, 1621. He is the patron saint of Altar Boys His parents watched with the greatest solicitude over the formation of his character. He was naturally kind, gentle, and affectionate towards them, a favourite with his playmates, brave and open, attractive in manner, and with a bright, joyful disposition. Yet he was also, by natural disposition, impetuous and fickle.
Still, when John was but seven years of age, M. Emmerick, his parish priest, already remarked with pleasure that the Lord would work wonders in the soul of the child. Many are the details that reveal him to us as he was in the Society of Jesus. He was but nine years of old when his mother was stricken with a long and serious illness. John would pass several hours each day by her bedside, and console her with his affectionate though serious, words.
Later, when he lived with some other boys at M. Emmerick’s house, he would undertake more than his share of the domestic work, selecting by preference the more difficult occupations. If he was loved by his comrades, he repaid their affection by his kindness, without, however, deviating from the dictates of his conscience. It was noticed even that he availed himself discreetly of his influence over them to correct their negligences and to restrain their frivolous conversation. Eager to learn, and naturally endowed with a bright intellect and a retentive memory, he enhanced the effect of these gifts by devoting to study whatever time he could legitimately take from his ordinary recreation.
What, however, distinguished him most from his companions was his piety. When he was hardly seven years old, he was accustomed to rise early and serve two or three Masses with the greatest fervour. He attended religious instructions and listened to Sunday sermons with the deepest recollection, and made pilgrimages to the sanctuary of Montaigu, a few miles from Diest, reciting the rosary as he went, or absorbed in meditation. As soon as he entered the Jesuit college at Mechlin, he was enrolled in the Society of the Blessed Virgin, and made a resolution to recite her Office daily. He would, moreover, ask the director of the sodality every month to prescribe for him some special acts of devotion to Mary. On Fridays, at nightfall, he would go out barefooted and make the Stations of the Cross in the town. Such fervent, filial piety won for him the grace of a religious vocation. Towards the end of his rhetoric course, he felt a distinct call to the Society of Jesus.
His family was decidedly opposed to this, and on 24 September, 1616, he was received into the novitiate at Mechlin. After two years passed in Mechlin he made his simple vows, and was sent to Antwerp to begin the study of philosophy. Remaining there only a few weeks, he set out for Rome, where he was to continue the same study. After the journeying three hundred leagues on foot, carrying a wallet on his back, he arrived at the Roman College, he studied for two years and passed on to the third year class in philosophy in the year 1621. One day early in August of that same year he was selected by the prefect of studies to take part in a philosophical disputation at the Greek College, at that time under the charge of the Dominicans. He opened the discussion with great perspicuity and erudition, but, on returning to his own college, he was seized with a violent fever of which he died, on 13 August, at the age of twenty-two years and five months.
During the second part of his life, John offered the type of the saint who performs ordinary actions with extraordinary perfection. In his purity, obedience, and admirable charity he resembled many religious, but he surpassed them all by his intense love for the rules of his order. The Constitutions of the Society of Jesus lead those who observe them exactly to the highest degree of sanctity, as has been declared by Pope Julius III and his successors. The attainment of that ideal was what John proposed to himself. “If I do not become a saint when I am young”, he used to say “I shall never become one”.
That is why he displayed such wisdom in conforming his will to that of his superiors and to the rules. He would have preferred death to the violation of the least of the rules of his order. “My penance”, he would say, “is to live the common life… I will pay the greatest attention to the least inspiration of God.” He observed this fidelity in the performance of all his duties till the last day of his life, as is attested by Fathers Bauters, Cepari, Ceccoti, Massucci, and Piccolomini, his spiritual directors. When he died, a large multitude crowded for several days to see him and to invoke his intercession. The same year, Phillip, Duke of Aerschot, had a petition presented to Pope Gregory XV for the taking of information with a view to his beatification. John Berchmans was declared Blessed in 1865, and was canonized in 1888. His statues represent him with hands clasped, holding his crucifix, his book of rules, and his rosary.
St. John
Berchmans
Born at Diest in Brabant,
13 March, 1599; died at Rome, 13 August, 1621. His parents watched with the greatest solicitude over the
formation of his character. He
was naturally kind, gentle, and
affectionate towards them, a favourite with his playmates,
brave and open, attractive in manner, and with a
bright, joyful disposition. Yet
he was also, by natural
disposition, impetuous and fickle. Still, when John
was but seven years of age, M. Emmerick, his parish priest, already remarked with pleasure that the Lord
would work wonders in the soul of the child. Many are the details that reveal
him to us as he was in the Society of Jesus. He was but nine years of old when his mother
was stricken with a long and serious illness. John
would pass several hours each day by her bedside, and console her with his
affectionate though serious, words. Later, when he lived with some other boys
at M. Emmerick's house, he would undertake more than his share of the domestic
work, selecting by preference the more difficult occupations. If he was loved by his comrades, he repaid their affection by his
kindness, without, however, deviating from the dictates of his conscience. It was noticed even that he availed himself
discreetly of his influence over them to correct their negligences and to
restrain their frivolous conversation. Eager to learn, and naturally
endowed with a bright intellect and a retentive memory,
he enhanced the effect of these gifts
by devoting to study whatever time
he could legitimately take from his ordinary recreation.
What, however,
distinguished him most from his companions was his piety. When he was hardly seven years old, he was
accustomed to rise early and
serve two or three Masses with
the greatest fervour. He attended religious
instructions and listened to Sunday
sermons with the deepest recollection,
and made pilgrimages to the sanctuary
of Montaigu, a few miles from
Diest, reciting the rosary as he went, or absorbed in meditation.
As soon as he entered the Jesuit college at Mechlin, he was enrolled in the Society
of the Blessed Virgin, and made
a resolution to recite her Office
daily. He would, moreover, ask the director of the sodality every month to
prescribe for him some special acts
of devotion to Mary. On Fridays,
at nightfall, he would go out barefooted and make the Stations
of the Cross in the town. Such fervent, filial piety won for him the grace
of a religious vocation. Towards the end of his rhetoric
course, he felt a distinct call to the Society of Jesus. His family was decidedly opposed to this, and on 24
September, 1616, he was received into the novitiate at Mechlin. After two years passed in Mechlin he made his simple vows, and was sent to Antwerp
to begin the study of philosophy. Remaining
there only a few weeks, he set out for Rome, where he was to continue the same study.
After the journeying three hundred leagues on foot, carrying a wallet on his
back, he arrived at the Roman College,
he studied for two years and passed on to the third year class in philosophy in the year 1621. One day early in August of
that same year he was selected by the prefect
of studies to take part in a philosophical disputation at the Greek
College, at that time under the
charge of the Dominicans. He opened the discussion with
great perspicuity and erudition, but, on returning to his own college,
he was seized with a violent
fever of which he died, on 13 August, at the age of twenty-two years and five
months.
During the second part of
his life, John offered
the type of the saint who performs ordinary actions
with extraordinary perfection.
In his purity, obedience, and
admirable charity he resembled
many religious, but he surpassed
them all by his intense love for the rules of his order. The Constitutions
of the Society of Jesus lead those who observe them exactly
to the highest degree of sanctity, as has been declared by Pope Julius III and his successors.
The attainment of that ideal was what John
proposed to himself. "If I do not become a saint
when I am young", he used to say "I shall never become one".
That is why he displayed such wisdom in conforming his will
to that of his superiors and to the rules. He would have preferred death to the
violation of the least of the rules of his order. "My penance",
he would say, "is to live the common life... I will pay the greatest
attention to the least inspiration
of God." He observed this fidelity in the
performance of all his duties till the last day of his life, as is attested
by Fathers Bauters, Cepari, Ceccoti, Massucci, and Piccolomini,
his spiritual directors. When he
died, a large multitude crowded for several days to see him and to invoke
his intercession. The same year,
Phillip, Duke
of Aerschot, had a petition
presented to Pope Gregory XV for the taking of information with
a view to his beatification. John Berchmans was declared Blessed
in 1865, and was canonized in 1888. His statues represent him with hands clasped, holding his crucifix,
his book of rules, and his rosary.
Demain, Henry. "St. John Berchmans." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 8. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 9 Apr. 2015 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08450a.htm>.
Demain, Henry. "St. John Berchmans." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 8. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 9 Apr. 2015 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08450a.htm>.
Transcription. This article was transcribed for
New Advent by Joseph P. Thomas. In memory of Bishop James Kallacherry.
Ecclesiastical approbation. Nihil Obstat. October 1, 1910. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New
York.
SOURCE : http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08450a.htm
John Berchmans, SJ (RM)
(also known as Jan Berchmans)
Born in Diest, Brabant, Flanders (Belgium), on March 13, 1599; died at Rome August 13, 1621; canonized 1888; feast day formerly on August 13.
John Berchmans, SJ (RM)
(also known as Jan Berchmans)
Born in Diest, Brabant, Flanders (Belgium), on March 13, 1599; died at Rome August 13, 1621; canonized 1888; feast day formerly on August 13.
Eldest son of a
master-shoemaker, John knew early that he wanted to be a priest. His piety
attracted attention even in his youth. When he was 11, his parish priest
permitted him to study in the little seminary run out of the rectory. At the
age of 13, he became a servant in the household of one of the cathedral canons
at Malines, John Froymont, in order to pay for his education. In 1615, the
Jesuits opened a college at Malines (Mechlin) and the following year John
became a Jesuit novice there. After his mother's death, his father and two
brothers followed suit and entered religious life.
The year his father
was ordained (1618) and died six months later, John was sent to Rome for his
novitiate. He was so poor and humble that he walked from Antwerp to Rome. In
the seminary he was known for his diligence and piety, impressing all with his
holiness and stress on perfection in little things. His kindly and cheerful
nature made him popular (contemporary accounts of his attractive nature
survive). In these respects he reminds us of the "little way" of
Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. There was nothing visibly extraordinary about him; he
was one of those saints who do the ordinary things of everyday life in an
uncommon manner, out of their overflowing love of God.
There are some
reports that he found the regimented life of a Jesuit scholar nearly intolerable.
Yet he continued in humble and cheerful obedience to his superiors and to God.
Although he longed
to work in the mission fields of China, he did not live long enough to permit
it. After completing his coursework, he was asked to defend the "entire field
of philosophy" in a public disputation in July, just after his exit
examinations. The following month he was asked to represent the Roman College
in a debate with the Greek College. Although he distinguished himself in this
disputation, he had studied so assiduously that he caught a cold in mid-summer,
became very ill with dysentary and a fever, and died a week later. He was
buried in the church of Saint Ignatius at Rome, but his heart was later
translated to the Jesuit church at Louvain.
So many miracles
were attributed to him after his death at the age of 22, that his cultus soon
spread to his native Belgium, where 24,000 copies of his portrait were
published within a few years of his death (Attwater, Attwater 2, Benedictines,
Brenan, Coulson, Delaney, Delehaye, Farmer, Schamoni).
Saint John is
represented as a young Jesuit kneeling in a ray of light, and pointing to a
skull, with a log of wood, crucifix, book and rosary near him. He is the patron
of altar boys (Roeder). The convent of Via di Tor dei Specchi (founded by Saint
Frances of Rome) has two pictures of the saint, although his death mask has
been lost. One was painted directly from the corpse; the other is a sweetened
copy of the death portrait. The original has never been published (Schamoni).
