Saint Jerome Emiliani

Saint Jerome Emiliani is known for helping orphans, the sick, and the poor. He lived in Italy in the early 1500s. He was born in Venice in 1486. His name in Italian is Gerolamo Emiliani. Some people also call him Jerome Aemilian. He started life as a soldier, but later gave his life to helping others.

Jerome had a strong faith in God, but it did not grow until later in his life. A time of suffering helped him change. After that, he began to care more about the needs of others, especially children without parents. He saw Jesus in the poor and the sick. He wanted to serve them.

He founded orphanages, hospitals, and homes for those in need. He used his time, money, and energy to care for people who had no one else. He also started a group of men who would continue this work. This group is called the Somascan Fathers.

Jerome lived during a time of war, hunger, and disease. Many people suffered. He did not run from this. He stayed and helped. He even died while taking care of people during a disease outbreak.

The Church honors him as a saint. He is the patron saint of orphans and abandoned children. His feast day is celebrated on February 8. His life shows how one person can care for many.

Jerome Emiliani lived simply and gave his life to serve others. His story still speaks to people today.

Jerome Emiliani was born in Venice in 1486. His family was noble and well-known in the city. He had a good home and was raised as a Catholic. When he was still young, his father died. This was hard for him. He had to grow up quickly.

As he got older, Jerome became more interested in success and honor. He wanted to be important in the world. He did not think much about God or faith at that time. He cared more about fame and power.

He joined the army when he was a young man. He became a soldier and fought in wars. He served the city of Venice in battles against other cities and armies. He liked the life of a soldier. He enjoyed being strong, respected, and in charge.

Jerome was given the job of guarding a fortress in a town called Castelnuovo. But while he was there, enemy forces attacked. Jerome was captured and thrown into prison. He was alone and afraid. He had no way to escape.

It was in prison that Jerome began to pray. He asked God for help. He promised to change his life if he ever got out. After some time, he escaped in a way he believed was a gift from God. He returned to Venice, but he was not the same man anymore.

His time as a soldier was over. The prison experience had opened his eyes. He began to think about how he should live differently. This was the start of a new path for him.

When Jerome Emiliani was locked in prison, he had no hope. He was cold, hungry, and alone. He could not escape on his own. He began to pray to Mary, the mother of Jesus. He asked her to help him.

After some time, something changed. Jerome found a way to escape. He believed Mary had helped him. He was free. He walked back to Venice, step by step. On the way home, he thought about his life. He knew he had been selfish before. He wanted to live differently now.

Back in Venice, he started going to church more. He spent time in prayer. He read the Bible. He helped at hospitals. He gave his money to the poor. He stopped chasing power and fame. He wanted to follow Jesus by helping people in need.

He also began to care for children without parents. Many of them lived on the streets. Some were sick, hungry, or alone. Jerome fed them, taught them, and gave them shelter. His life now had a new goal—serving others.

His time in prison had changed his heart. What once felt like chains became the start of a new life. He now lived for God and for the poor.

After his escape and change of heart, Jerome Emiliani began to care for the poor. He saw many people in need. The streets were full of sick people and hungry children. Many had no family. Jerome could not ignore them.

He started small. He gave food, clothes, and shelter. He opened his home to orphans. He helped them learn skills so they could work and live with hope. He treated each child with love and respect. He saw them as sons and daughters of God.

As more children came, he needed more space. So he started orphanages. These were safe places where children could live, learn, and grow. Jerome also helped start hospitals for the sick. He cared for people during times of war and disease. He stayed with them even when others ran away.

People saw his good work and joined him. Some gave money. Others gave their time. Jerome did not keep anything for himself. He gave all he had. He lived simply and worked hard every day.

His care for orphans became the center of his mission. He gave them not just food and shelter, but also love and guidance. Many children who had nothing now had hope because of him.

Jerome Emiliani knew he could not do everything alone. The work was growing. More orphans needed care. More sick people needed help. So he invited other men to join him. They shared his love for the poor and his faith in God.

These men lived simply. They prayed together. They worked together. They cared for orphans, the sick, and the poor. They followed Jerome’s example. They wanted to serve, not be served.

Jerome and the others formed a group. It later became known as the Somascan Fathers. The name came from a town called Somasca, where Jerome did much of his work. The men in this group were not priests at first. They were laymen who gave their lives to help others.

The Somascan Fathers opened more orphanages and schools. They also helped boys learn trades. This way, the boys could work and take care of themselves. The group grew slowly but stayed close to Jerome’s way of life.

Today, the Somascan Fathers still serve around the world. They care for orphans, youth, and the poor. Their work started with one man who chose to live for others. Jerome gave them a mission that still continues.

Jerome Emiliani spent his last years caring for the poor and the sick. In 1537, a disease spread through the town of Somasca. Many people were sick and dying. Jerome stayed to help them. He fed them, comforted them, and prayed with them.

While caring for the sick, Jerome got sick too. He died on February 8, 1537. He gave his life serving others. He was not rich or famous. But he gave hope to people who had nothing.

Years later, the Church looked at his life and work. People saw how he had lived with great love and faith. In 1767, Pope Clement XIII declared him a saint. The Church made February 8 his feast day.

Saint Jerome Emiliani is the patron saint of orphans and abandoned children. He is also the patron of troubled youth. Many people still pray to him today and ask for his help.

The Somascan Fathers still follow his mission. They work in schools, orphanages, and missions in many countries. Jerome’s example shows that one person can make a difference by loving and serving others. His life is a guide for Catholics today.

See the Life God Wants for You

Saint Jerome Emiliani sat in a dark prison and started to see a new life. Instead of staying in despair, he imagined a life of service—helping the poor, the sick, and orphans. That vision became his path.

You don’t need a prison cell to find clarity. You just need quiet moments to ask, “What is God’s dream for me?” Like Jerome, start by imagining the life God is calling you to. Then take small steps to live it. Vision is the first step toward change.

Saint Jerome Emiliani (Founder of the Somaschi Fathers): Discover the Remarkable Life and Legacy of Saint Jerome of Venice

This book tells the story of Saint Jerome Emiliani, a man who gave up a rich life to help orphans, the sick, and the poor. It shares how he changed after being in prison and started a group called the Somascan Fathers. The book includes his life story, the good works he did, the miracles linked to him, and how he became a saint. It also looks at his teachings and how his example still speaks to people who want to live with faith and care for others. This book is for anyone who wants to learn about a saint who served with love.