Jerome Emiliani, Religious

Jerome was born in Venice and became a commander of the League of Cambrai and was captured and imprisoned during a battle. He spent the time in prison learning to pray. When he escaped, he returned to Venice and began studies for the priesthood and was ordained in 1518. He decided to devote himself to care for orphans during the plague and eventually founded the Clerks Regular of Somascha to care for orphans and to educate children and priests. He died of an infectious disease that he caught while caring for the children. He is the patron saint of abandoned children and orphans.