Not Home. Come Home.

Our Contemplative Activist for this week is St. Jerome Emiliani, patron saint of orphans and abandoned children.

Jerome was born into an upper-class ruling family in Venice. As a youth, he cared little for religion, paying more attention to success in the world’s eyes. He fought as a soldier for the Italian military, desiring to gain honor for himself. He quickly moved up the ranks and was given a high position of command at a young age. But at the age of 25, he was captured and imprisoned.

Jerome’s time in prison gave him time to think about eternal matters and began to dedicate more time to prayer. When he gained his freedom, he dedicated his life to serving others as his way of expressing his devotion to Christ. Jerome returned to Venice, pursued theological studies, and tutored his nephews. In 1518, he was ordained to the priesthood.

Around the time he was ordained, Venice suffered a terrible plague. Jerome increasingly spent his days serving the sick and suffering. His heart was specifically burdened for abandoned children, who had lost their parents or caregivers to the plague and were left to fend for themselves. Jerome opened his own home to care for these children, keep them safe, and teach them about the God who loved them. He would often go out at night to bury those who had died in the streets and offer their children a place to stay. Jerome caught the plague himself but recovered and continued pouring himself out for the afflicted.

Jerome started orphanages in six Italian towns, as well as a hospital in Verona and a home for former prostitutes. He founded the Congregation of Somaschi, a society of clerks devoted to instructing and caring for orphans. This group of clergy and laymen spearheaded a movement of religious and social reform that began to spread throughout Italy. These clerks spent their lives caring for the poor, orphans, and abandoned youth. Jerome also founded a seminary and is said to have been the first to teach children Christian doctrine with a question-and-answer technique.

In 1537, Jerome’s impactful life came to an end when he caught the plague a second time. His death was a great loss to his community and to those he cared for, but the work he established carries on to this day through The Somascan Brothers. These laymen and priests support orphans, at-risk youth, those struggling with addiction, and minority communities through education, pastoral care, and rehabilitation. They serve in group homes, schools, rehabilitation centers, and parishes. They live according to their motto: “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:18)

May many Anglicans live as St Jerome, in their roles as lay leaders or clergy, finding and loving at-risk children and youth who need God's tangible love and care.