St Alphonsus Rodriguez
- International
- October 31, 2012
Alphonsus – or Alonso – Rodriguez is a textbook example of how the Lord’s grace brings fulfillment out of what was human failure.
Born in 1532, Alonso began life as a merchant of wool and textiles in southern Spain. But his business crashed and he was reduced to penury. To make matters worse, he lost his children and his wife to disease in quick succession. Stupefied by these reverses of fortune – he was not even 40 - he thought of giving his life to God’s service, but was turned down again and again by religious orders who didn’t think him suitable for admission. His life seemed doomed.
Finally, a considerate Jesuit superior admitted him as a lay brother, and he was assigned to the ‘unskilled job’ of porter in the Jesuit college of Montesion, Majorca. It is there that he passed his whole life, in seemingly obscure fashion.
But it was also here that he exercised a vast and tremendous influence for good on everyone who passed through the gates of the college. His simplicity and patience, treating every visitor as Christ - “Yes, Lord, I’m coming!” was his cry - being available to all kinds, and most of all, his engaging conversation had a transforming effect on both students and teachers.
They would stop by on their way to class and chat with the old porter, or tease him, or confide their secret desires and worries to him. In turn, he would listen patiently and allow God’s grace to touch their hearts through his simple, encouraging words. Alonso’s influence spread quietly through the college and the city.
It is Alonso who influenced the young Jesuit Peter Claver, to give up a brilliant career as a lecturer and volunteer to work with the slaves in South America. Alonso Rodriguez used a simple but powerful tool to change lives for the better: conversation.
“It is not what we do for God, but how we do it,” said Mother Teresa. “We can only do little things with great love”. The example of Alonso Rodriguez shows us how very true that is.
Born in 1532, Alonso began life as a merchant of wool and textiles in southern Spain. But his business crashed and he was reduced to penury. To make matters worse, he lost his children and his wife to disease in quick succession. Stupefied by these reverses of fortune – he was not even 40 - he thought of giving his life to God’s service, but was turned down again and again by religious orders who didn’t think him suitable for admission. His life seemed doomed.
Finally, a considerate Jesuit superior admitted him as a lay brother, and he was assigned to the ‘unskilled job’ of porter in the Jesuit college of Montesion, Majorca. It is there that he passed his whole life, in seemingly obscure fashion.
But it was also here that he exercised a vast and tremendous influence for good on everyone who passed through the gates of the college. His simplicity and patience, treating every visitor as Christ - “Yes, Lord, I’m coming!” was his cry - being available to all kinds, and most of all, his engaging conversation had a transforming effect on both students and teachers.
They would stop by on their way to class and chat with the old porter, or tease him, or confide their secret desires and worries to him. In turn, he would listen patiently and allow God’s grace to touch their hearts through his simple, encouraging words. Alonso’s influence spread quietly through the college and the city.
It is Alonso who influenced the young Jesuit Peter Claver, to give up a brilliant career as a lecturer and volunteer to work with the slaves in South America. Alonso Rodriguez used a simple but powerful tool to change lives for the better: conversation.
“It is not what we do for God, but how we do it,” said Mother Teresa. “We can only do little things with great love”. The example of Alonso Rodriguez shows us how very true that is.
