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Alonso (Alphonsus) Rodríguez was born in Segovia, Spain, July 25, 1533 (?). His first contact with the Society was when Peter Favre lodged with his family in 1541 and prepared the child Alonso for his first communion. Alonso was studying Latin in Alcalá when, on his father's death in 1546, he had to return and help run the family's wool and cloth business. He married around 1560, but his wife and their three children all died within 10 years. He sold his declining business and entered into a long period of depression over his various losses and failures. He gave himself to prayer and penance and sought direction from the Jesuits, newly arrived in Segovia.
Applying for admission to the Society in 1568, he was rejected because of his age, weakened health, and lack of education. He followed his spiritual director, Fr Luís Santander, to Valencia, where he began to study Latin so as to prepare for the priesthood. He again applied for admission in 1570. The Provincial of Aragón overrode the opinion of two of the examiners and admitted Alonso to the Society at Valencia as a brother on January 31, 1571. He was 37 years of age. He was sent to the new college of Montesión in Palma de Majorca that August and spent his remaining 46 years there mainly as doorkeeper until his death on October 31, 1617.
Whenever the doorbell rang, he would say, "Coming, Lord," receive the visitors graciously and go looking for the Father or student they wanted to meet. Many came to seek his wise advice. His humility, charity, obedience, and fervent devotion to our Lady were exemplary. He had a deep sense of his own sinfulness, which, far from being negative, led him to overcome whatever hindered encounter with God. The writings he left behind show that he was blessed with truly mystical graces.
He had a childlike simplicity in obeying difficult commands. The story has it that one day during the provincial's visitation, after the Scripture had been read in the dining room, the provincial said, "Brother Alphonsus, will you get up and give us a little sermon in Greek?" Nonplussed, Alphonsus ascended into the pulpit and repeated "Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison, Kyrie eleison" for a full minute until told to stop.
Though Alonso himself never left Spain, he greatly influenced the missionary vocation of a young student at Montesión named Peter Claver, who later became the Apostle of the Slaves in South America.
Alonso Rodríguez was beautified by Pope Leo XII on June 12, 1825 and canonized by Leo XIII on January 15, 1888, together with Peter Claver.
"The protection of so great a patron is most appropriate for helping us become 'thoroughly humble and prudent in Christ as well as conspicuous in the integrity of Christian life' (Exposcit debitum no. 9), as our Institute truly demands of us." (W. Ledochowski, AR II [1917], 394)
Applying for admission to the Society in 1568, he was rejected because of his age, weakened health, and lack of education. He followed his spiritual director, Fr Luís Santander, to Valencia, where he began to study Latin so as to prepare for the priesthood. He again applied for admission in 1570. The Provincial of Aragón overrode the opinion of two of the examiners and admitted Alonso to the Society at Valencia as a brother on January 31, 1571. He was 37 years of age. He was sent to the new college of Montesión in Palma de Majorca that August and spent his remaining 46 years there mainly as doorkeeper until his death on October 31, 1617.
Whenever the doorbell rang, he would say, "Coming, Lord," receive the visitors graciously and go looking for the Father or student they wanted to meet. Many came to seek his wise advice. His humility, charity, obedience, and fervent devotion to our Lady were exemplary. He had a deep sense of his own sinfulness, which, far from being negative, led him to overcome whatever hindered encounter with God. The writings he left behind show that he was blessed with truly mystical graces.
He had a childlike simplicity in obeying difficult commands. The story has it that one day during the provincial's visitation, after the Scripture had been read in the dining room, the provincial said, "Brother Alphonsus, will you get up and give us a little sermon in Greek?" Nonplussed, Alphonsus ascended into the pulpit and repeated "Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison, Kyrie eleison" for a full minute until told to stop.
Though Alonso himself never left Spain, he greatly influenced the missionary vocation of a young student at Montesión named Peter Claver, who later became the Apostle of the Slaves in South America.
Alonso Rodríguez was beautified by Pope Leo XII on June 12, 1825 and canonized by Leo XIII on January 15, 1888, together with Peter Claver.
"The protection of so great a patron is most appropriate for helping us become 'thoroughly humble and prudent in Christ as well as conspicuous in the integrity of Christian life' (Exposcit debitum no. 9), as our Institute truly demands of us." (W. Ledochowski, AR II [1917], 394)
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