St. Alphonsus Rodriguez was a Jesuit brother who overcame great personal tragedy to become a kindly and esteemed porter and spiritual advisor. Alphonsus was born at Segovia, Spain in 1533 to a prosperous cloth merchant and his wife. The family hosted a young [St.] Peter Favre (Faber) for an extended...

“Quiet is the first step in our sanctification, the tongue purified from the gossip of the world; the eyes unexcited by fair color or comely shape; the ear not relaxing the tone of the mind by voluptuous songs, nor by that special mischief, the talk of comedians and clowns.” St....

“Sometimes all the powers of our souls are concentrated and withdrawn as a result of the deep reverence, the undisturbing fear, that takes hold of us as we reflect on the majesty of the King in Whose presence we are, Who is looking at us; just as we should pull...