Saint John Berchmans

If I do not become a saint when I am young, I shall never become one.

Saint John Berchmans

Saint John Berchmans was born at Diest in Brabant on March 13, 1599, and was the oldest son of a poor shoemaker. From a very early age, he felt that God was calling him to become a priest. When he was nine years old his mother died of a terrible illness. Despite losing his mother, he was very pious, kind, and loved by all. When he was seven, he would rise early in the morning to serve 2 or 3 masses. He entered the Jesuit College at Mechlin and he prayed the Little Office of Mary every day. He felt a call to join the Jesuits and was received into the novitiate at Mechlin. He was sent to Rome to further his studies. He studied there for two years and then returned to his own college. On August 13, 1621, when he was 22 years old, he died of a fever. In 1865 he was declared blessed and in 1888 he was canonized. Below is a beautiful prayer he composed during his lifetime.

To An Altar Boy
To be Christ’s page at the altar,
To serve Him freely there.
Where even the Angels falter,
Bowed low in reverent prayer.
To touch the throne most holy,
To hand the gifts for the feast,
To see Him meekly, lowly,
Descend at the word of the priest.
To hear man’s poor petition,
To sound the silver bell,
When He in sweet submission,
Comes down with us to dwell.
No grander mission surely
Could Saints or men enjoy;
No heart should love more purely,
Than yours my altar boy.
God bless you, lad, forever,
And keep you in His care,
And Guard you that you never
Belie the robes you wear.
For white bespeaks untainted
A heart both tried and true;
And red tolls love the sainted
The holy martyrs knew.
Throughout life, then, endeavor
God’s graces to employ;
And be in heart forever
A holy altar boy.