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September 27 Apparition to St. Jerome Emiliani, Treviso, Veneto, Italy
(1511)
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The former Venetian commander, Jerome Emiliani, lay in a dak dirty dungeon, confined in the fortress of Castelnuovo, shackled, with a ball of marble hanging from his neck. Previously relying on his own strength and military prowess, he now reflected on his past life, and deciding to repent and change his life, sought the help of Mary. He promised that if he were released, he would go on a pilgrimage to the shrine of Santa Maria Maggiore in Treviso.
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On September 27, 1511 the Virgin appeared to Jerome, freeing him from the shackles, and escorting him from the prison.
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Jerome honored his promise, and went to Treviso, depositing his shackles at the feet of Our Lady. After a short time as mayor of Treviso, St. Jerome decided to spend the rest of his life for Christ. Renouncing his position as a Venetian nobleman and his riches,
Jerome was ordained a priest in 1518, he began to help the poor, especially the sick and orphaned children, victims of the war, famine and pestilence, using his own fortune, then journeying to many cities to build orphanages, a hospital and a shelter for former prostitutes. The Clerks Regular of Somascha was founded to carry on this work. On February 8, 1537, after years of asceticism and hard, physical labor, he died of fever, contracted in the care of the sick, invoking the names of Jesus and Mary,
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