Celebrating St. Jerome Emilian on July 20.
St. Jerome Emiliani, whose feast is celebrated on July 20, was a 16th-century Venetian soldier turned saint. Captured during battle and imprisoned, Jerome experienced a conversion while in chains. After escaping, he attributed his freedom to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and committed his life to the service of the poor.
He went on to found the Clerics Regular of Somasca, a congregation devoted to the care of orphans, the sick, and the abandoned. During times of plague and war, he risked his life to serve those most neglected. He is considered the patron saint of orphans and abandoned children.
Jerome’s journey from power to humility speaks to anyone who has experienced a wake-up call—a moment when life redirects you. He reminds professionals that success doesn’t always mean climbing higher, but sometimes stepping down to lift others.
His story encourages us to notice the people our world overlooks, and to be creative and consistent in care. Jerome didn’t just offer charity—he built communities, trained workers, and stayed through crises.
In workplaces and cities, where it’s easy to walk past what’s inconvenient, Jerome Emiliani shows us how to live alert to need, generous with time, and rooted in trust that every person matters.