Born in Belgium in 1599, he was the oldest son of John and Elizabeth who named him after St. John The Baptist. When he was nine, his mother became very sick, and John spent hours at her bedside praying she would recover, she eventually did. 

At 15 he became a Jesuit Novice, entering the Sodality of The Blessed Virgin Mary, and was sent to Rome to continue his studies. But in 1621, John became very sick with a fever, and on August 11th he passed away. 

After his death, there were many miracles attributed to John. The one that led to his Canonization came in 1866 at The Academy of The Sacred Heart in Louisiana. 

Shortly after the Civil War, he appeared to a young Novice named Mary Wilson, who was near death. Unable to speak, she prayed to The Lord and for the intercession of John Berchmans. Immediately he appeared to her, and she was healed. 

He is the Patron Saint of altar boys. 

Saint John Berchmans, please pray for us.