Saint Alexius, Man of God

BY: NINO A. CALAMBA, RN


Studying the life of Saint Alexius brought me to one simple lesson of self-sacrifice and the strength of leaving the comforts of life in order to become an instrument of generosity towards others whom no one shares kindness.

Saint Alexius, the patron saint of the congregation of the Alexian Brothers, whose dedication to the healthcare ministry helped them produced various hospitals, homecare, and medical facilities all over the world providing health and medical services to the people of God.

We are very lucky to have the Alexian Brothers here in Davao City through the Alexian Brothers Health & Wellness Centre, which caters to patients’ needs in ambulatory care and diagnostic procedures pegged at an affordable and consumer-friendly rates. The Alexian Brothers Outreach Ministry is also very active in providing free medical consultation and services to depressed areas in the city regularly.

The life and examples of Saint Alexius inspired the religious brothers of the Alexian congregation to serve God in promoting health and become an advocate to the maintenance of health and wellness among all people.

Saint Alexius was a son of a wealthy and very powerful Roman senator in the year 404. According to Syriac legend, he is a “Man of God” in Edessa, Mesopotamia, who lived by begging and shared the alms he received with other poor people.

Meanwhile, the Greek version of his legend has said that Saint Alexius was the only son of Euphemianus, a wealthy Christian Roman of the senatorial class. Saint Alexius fled his arranged marriage to follow his calling of “self-sacrifice” for God and for His less fortunate people. He disguised himself as a beggar and lived near Edessa in Syria. There he begged for alms even from his own household slaves, who have arrived in the place to look for him as ordered by his parents.

A miraculous vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary singled him out as a “Man of God”. People were already trying to mob him and ask for intercessions, but they have become notorious. In order to avoid the resultant notoriety of people, he went back to Rome.

When he arrived back in Rome, he was a change man and a beggar at this time, in which his parents failed to recognize him. Because his parents were good Christians, they took Saint Alexius in their palace and sheltered him in a dark cubbyhole beneath the stairs. He spent seventeen years living in his own home, not as the only son of the senator, but as a “guest beggar”. He spent his days unknown to his family praying and teaching catechism to children.

During his death, his family found writings on his body which told them who he really was and how he had lived his life of penance since his wedding day, ALL FOR THE LOVE OF GOD.

P.S. Greetings to my ABHWC Family, especially to the nice people of the NURSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT: Jen-Jen, Ate Meldz, Ma’am Jane, Ma’am Ging, Ate Mabel, Ma’am Anna, and Lourenz !!!