St. Hieronymus Ämiliani.

Girolamo (Latin: Hieronymus) was born into the wealthy Venetian patrician family of the Miani (Latin: Aemiliani). After receiving a lavish upbringing and training, he embarked on a military career at the age of 15. In 1506 he was admitted to the Grand Council (Maggior Consiglio) of his hometown. He also quickly made his career as an officer; In the Great Venetian War (1508–1511) between the Republic of Venice and the League of Cambrai, he rose to the rank of general . As commander of the fortress of Castelnuovo di Quero, he had to bow to French superiority in 1511 and was taken prisoner of war. ^[1] That is why he is often seen in pictures with a chain. According to legend, the Virgin Mary appeared to him in the dungeon and gave him a key to open the shackles. After escaping from captivity, he dedicated his life to becoming a priest. He also founded several orphanages where children who had lost their parents in the war found shelter. ^[2] In the following years, at the request of the local bishops, he expanded his activities to Milan , Pavia and Verona . ^[3] Hieronymus Ämiliani remained a layman throughout his life. Pope John Paul II described him as a “layman who inspires laypeople.” ^[4]

When there was a famine in Venice in 1528, which was exacerbated by an epidemic of plague, Jerome gathered young men to help the hungry, sick and dying. In 1531 Jerome finally left his father’s house. He and two of his companions, the priests Alessandro Besozzi (Latinized: Besuzius) and Agostino Barili, decided to write a Vita communis . In 1532 a community arose in Bergamo under the leadership of Agostino Barili, and in 1534 a community arose in Somasca under the leadership of Hieronymus. Their house became the mother house of the Somaski order. On February 8, 1537, Hieronymus Ämiliani died of the plague .