Portal:Catholic Church/Patron Archive/November 26

John Berchmans, SJ (Dutch: Jan Berchmans [jɑm ˈbɛr(ə)xmɑns]; 13 March 1599 – 13 August 1621) was a Belgian Jesuit scholastic and is revered as a saint in the Catholic Church.

In 1615, the Jesuits opened a college at Mechelen, Belgium and Berchmans was one of the first to enroll. His spiritual model was his fellow Jesuit Aloysius Gonzaga, and he was influenced by the example of the English Jesuit martyrs. Berchmans is the patron saint of altar servers, Jesuit scholastics, and students. (Full article...)
Attributes: Often depicted with hands clasped, holding his crucifix, his book of rules, and his rosary
Patronage: Altar Servers, Jesuit scholastics, and students
See also: Leonard of Port Maurice