Life of St. Jerome Emiliani
FOUNDER OF THE SOMASCAN FATHERS
Jerome was born in Venice, the son of Angelo Emiliani (popularly called Miani) and Eleonore Mauroceni. He 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.
The hospitals and the hovels of the poor were his favorite 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 and at Bergamo, he erected orphanages, one for boys and another for girls. Here also he founded the first home for repentant prostitutes.
Two priests, Alessandro Besuzio and Agostino Bariso, then joined him in his labors of charity, and in 1532 Gerolamo founded a religious society, placing the motherhouse at Somasca, a secluded North Italian hamlet in the Comune of Vercurago between Milan and Bergamo, after which the members became known as Somaschi. In the Rule of this Society, Gerolamo stated the principal work of the community was the care of orphans, poor and sick, and demanded that dwellings, food and clothing would bear the mark of religious poverty.
St Jerome fell a martyr to his zeal; contracting a disease at Bergamo, he died at Somasca in 1537.
SAINT JEROME EMILIANI AND THE SOMASCAN BROTHERS
Saint Jerome (or miani) was born in Venice, in 1486, the son of Angelo and Dionora Morosini. His Father died when he was very young and he was well educated in the Christian faith by his mother, a most noble woman.
In 1506, he entered public life, dedicating himself chiefly to the Army. A soldier of the most Serene Republic, in 1511, he was sent to the fortress of castelnuovo, in Quero, on the Piave River, as Commander of the Castle.
War raged between the Republic of Venice and the State that had adhered to the league of Cambrai. A large contingent of troops of Maximilian of Austria laid siege to the fortress. The garrison resisted bravely but finally had to surrender, August 27,1511
The few survivors were made prisoners, the Commander thrown in chains in the underground passage of the fortress, destined, no doubt, to certain death. However, God’s mercy awaited him there.
Humiliated, in prison, Jerome experienced complete inner transformation. He realized the vanity of human ambitions, acknowledged the errors of his youth that had been spent in pleasures. He begged aid from the mother in heaven he had invoked so often when a child.
And the Virgin appeared to him. Unseen, she accompanied him by the enemy sentry, on the road to civilian liberty and a definite return to God. In fact, in Treviso, at the sanctuary of the Madonna Grande, Jerome made a definite decision to dedicate himself entirely to the service of God and fellow man.
Returning to Venice, he gave his patrimony to the poor and joined the companions of Divine Love who dedicated themselves chiefly to assisting incurables. Thereafter, he went to hospitals, bringing the comfort of his charity and of his faith.
In this service, he contracted a serious illness, but he overcome it, thanks to his strong constitution, and with renewed fervor he resumed his charitable work.
