12 Facts About Alphonsus Rodriguez

Alphonsus Rodriguez was a Spanish Jesuit religious brother who is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church.

When Peter Faber, one of the original Jesuits, visited the city to preach, the Rodriguez family provided hospitality to the Jesuit.

At the age of twelve, Alphonsus Rodriguez was sent to the new Jesuit college at Alcala, but left two years later to help his mother run the family business when his father died.

The provincial is supposed to have said that if Alphonsus Rodriguez was not qualified to become a brother or a priest, he could enter to become a saint.

Alphonsus Rodriguez tells that each time the bell rang, he looked at the door and envisioned that it was God who was standing outside seeking admittance.

Alphonsus Rodriguez made his perpetual vows in 1585 at the age of 54.

Alphonsus Rodriguez held deep devotion to the Sacred Heart and to the Blessed Virgin Mary, especially to the latter's Immaculate Conception.

Alphonsus Rodriguez would produce copies of the complete text of the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary for the private recitation of people who asked.

Alphonsus Rodriguez reportedly was favored with mystical graces, ecstasies and visions of our Lord, our Lady and the saints.

Alphonsus Rodriguez became very feeble when he reached his eighties and in his last months his memory began to fail.

Alphonsus Rodriguez was not even able to remember his favourite prayers.

Alphonsus Rodriguez served with such love that the act of opening the door became for him a sacramental gesture.