Saint of the Day: St. Alphonsus Rodriguez
St Alphonsus, or Alonzo as he was called in Spain, was born at Segovia in Spain, on July 12, 1531. From childhood he was devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary. He loved her as his mother. This childlike devotion to her was the main reason for his sanctity. Alphonsus was destined to be an example of Christian perfection in many states of life. On the death of his father in 1545, he was called home from Alcala where he was studying, by his mother burdened with the care of eleven young children, and though a boy of fourteen, he was placed at the head of the family business, which involved the buying and selling of wool. At the request of his mother, Alphonsus married the virtuous Maria Suarez. His married life of four years was marked with much suffering. His wife died leaving behind a son; his mother, too, died leaving behind her eleven children. He was about 32 years old when his mother died. He bore his cross willingly. Alphonsus started a more fervent life. He wanted to become a Jesui...