The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-12-10
OF ST. JOHN BERCHMANS

+.
Declared Venerable on September II,
1745, by Pope Benedict xIv-Pro-
claimed Blessed in May, 1865, by
Pope Plus lx-canonized January
10, 1888, by Pope Leo xIll-His
Holiness, Pope Benedict XIV, Trans.
fers Feast From August 13, Day on
Which He Died, to November 26.
Many little town otherwise insig-
nificant in the worlds history has be-
come renowned for all time because
of the singular virtue and heroic
sanctity of one Of. her sons. Such a
little town is the ancient town of
Diest, on the main line from Antwerp
to Maestrich, celebrated as the birth.
place of St. John Berchmans, the ter
centenary of whose blessed death
was commemorated on November 26
Of this year. This event was solem-
niZed throughout the Jesuit Order.
Unlike other great concentrations
made during this year recalling the
lives Of valiant sons of Holy Mother
Church whose message has been car
ried abroad in the public streets, of
a st. Francis or ST. Dominic whose
stupendous feats have stirred the
world to moral action and have made
them giants among men-the figure
of this youth who died at the age OF
twenty years in the Roman College
presents no remarkable, outward fea
lures to attract the eye And yet his
work was glorious one, and it makes
it's appeal directly to the lives OF
everyone in the world.
The splendid ceremonies which
marked the canonization of Berch
mans occurred during the pontifcate
of Leo XIII in January of the year
1888. The words of the Holy Father
on this glorious occasion are most
significant: Without doing anything
extraordinary as far as eye could see
he reached the highest perfection"
A Charming Picture.
The story of. ST. John Berchmans
presents one of the most charming
pictures offered in the entire annals
of the Saints.
The quaint town of Diest has not
forgotten her privileges. Although
today modern Notifications have
somewhat changed her outward as
pect from the days when, at the
Sign of the Great and Little Moon,
lived John Charles Berchmans, a
worthy cordwainer and the father OF
our .Saint-yet the house is still pre-
served, with modern and modest
front. In niche high up in the wall
is the statue of a youth in religious
habit, holding in his clasped hands a
book, a rosary and a crucifix. An in
scription beneath reads: "The House
of Blessed John Berchmans."
AS a child his teachers remarked
his sweetness of disposition, his sim
plicity and piety which, unassuming
never intruded on anyone. One OF
them says of him: Il looked on him
as sort of natural wonder; / praised
him before my scholars and proposed
him as a model for their emula ton
One day, when his father inquired
about his progress, recollect saying:
How blessed you are in such son
He will be your consolation, and my
honor and glory"
John Berchmans had one ambition
his innocent heart aspired to be q
priest. Hard times were coming tc
his father, however, and his means be
came seriously crippled. But, unlike
many parents, he did not propose tc
allow this circumstance to interfere
with the vocation of his child Fear
ing for his innocence if he was al
lowed to mingle with common work
men in the shops, he sent him tt
school at no small expense.
During his school days the follow
ing testimony of one of his teachers
versation he lit up in my cold heart
some flames, though feeble, of Divine
Love, and the very thought of them
to this day fills me with confusion
when l recall several practices which
suggested to him and which / have
since read of in his Life"
John Berchmans always cherished
spirit of reverence for his parents
teachers and superiors. Writing
like st. Aloysius whom he so closely
resembled, to his parents, he address
es them: "My honorable and dearest
mother"
In September, 1916, he entered the
Belgian novitiate of the Society Of
Jesus, then at Mechlin. He was JUS
beginning his eighteenth year, ant
his face, always beautiful and win
ming, was taking the form of man
hood. He made friends at once.
Come, Brother" he said to one
of his associates, "let us rejoice tha
we are in the House of the Lord We
must not be found unworthy of sc
great favor. May both of us always
live in the holy Society of Jesus, ant
may we meet in Heaven after Ions
and hard work"
This simple and joyous speech
marks the keynote of Berchmans