On October 30, the Catholic Church commemorates Saint Alonso Rodriguez, a humble Jesuit lay brother whose quiet service as a porter concealed a profound life of holiness. Though he never became a priest, wrote a book, or achieved worldly success, his spiritual writings discovered only after his death revealed the depth of his mystical relationship with God.

Born in Spain in 1532, Alonso married at 26 and worked as a cloth merchant. His life, however, was marked by tragedy. By the age of 31, he had lost his wife and two of their children, and soon after, his last surviving child also died. His business collapsed, leaving him alone and destitute. In his sorrow, Alonso turned completely to prayer, penance, and the search for God’s will.

Drawn to the newly founded Society of Jesus, he sought to join the Jesuits but faced many obstacles. Lacking formal education, he was unable to complete his studies at the College of Barcelona and was initially rejected by the Jesuit community in Valencia. Yet his perseverance and deep faith caught the attention of a Jesuit provincial who eventually admitted him as a lay brother.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, Jesuit lay brothers, known as “temporal coadjutors,” were entrusted with the community’s practical needs such as cooking, maintenance, and manual work. Alonso was assigned to the Jesuit college of Montesión in Majorca, where he served as a doorkeeper for 46 years. His duties included welcoming guests, carrying luggage, delivering messages, and assisting the poor.

Despite his modest position, many began to recognize his extraordinary spiritual wisdom. Students and priests alike sought his counsel, among them the young Peter Claver, whom Alonso encouraged to become a missionary in South America. Claver went on to baptize and minister to more than 300,000 enslaved people, becoming a saint himself.

After Alonso’s death in 1617, his superiors reviewed his private writings and discovered a life of deep contemplation and mystical insight. He taught that every encounter was a meeting with Christ and that holiness could be found in even the simplest tasks. His spirituality placed him among the great mystics of his age, including St. Ignatius of Loyola and St. Teresa of Avila.

Canonized in 1887, Saint Alonso Rodriguez remains a model of humility and devotion. He is buried in Majorca, where he faithfully opened the door for nearly half a century, finding in every knock the presence of God.