Saint Alfonso Rodriguez commemorated for his Jesuit service

Saint Alfonso Rodriguez, a Spanish Jesuit who served as a porter and spiritual advisor at the Montesion College in Mallorca, is being commemorated. Born in Segovia, Spain, in 1533, Rodriguez was the son of a textile merchant. After losing his wife and three children, and facing the collapse of his family business, he sought spiritual guidance and eventually joined the Society of Jesus.

Although initially rejected for the priesthood due to his age and limited formal education, he was admitted as a brother. He spent 46 years serving as a porter at the Montesion College, where he provided spiritual counsel to students, travelers, and officials. Notably, he provided encouragement to Saint Peter Claver, who later became a missionary in South America.

Rodriguez died in Mallorca on October 31, 1617. He was beatified by Pope Leo XII in 1825 and canonized by Pope Leo XIII in 1888.