St. Simon de Rojas - September 28, 2024

Simón de Rojas (28 October 1552 – 29 September 1624) was a Spanish priest of the Trinitarian Order known as the "Apostle of the Ave Maria", for his devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. A person of many abilities, Rojas was a theologian and a spiritual writer, as well as a friend and benefactor of the poor.

400TH CENTENARY OF THE DEATH OF ST. SIMON DE ROJAS

St. Simon de Rojas was a tireless apostle, dedicating himself to various ministries. He founded hospitals, orphanages, and schools, and worked to reform the Trinitarian Order. He also preached missions and retreats, using his eloquence to inspire others to follow God's will. St. Simon had a special vocation to feed the poor. As he was praying one day he heard the voice of the Blessed Mother telling him something similar to what she told her son at the wedding of Cana but instead of missing wine she said: "My son, the poor don't have bread to eat." From that moment, St. Simon de Rojas started a program to feed the poor. He served soup and bread to the poor in front of the convent every day for many years. On occasions, over a thousand people were counted. Once the kings he served asked him to travel with them out of the city. This humble Trinitarian priest asked the queen to give him the food he was supposed to ingest during the 8-day stay he was going to stay in the palace. After receiving the food, he went to the poor neighborhood in the area, he gave all the food to the poor, and fasted all that time. Being afraid his apostolate would end after he died, he founded the Congregation of the Slaves of the Most Sweet Name of Mary in 1611. Also known as the Congregation of the Hail Mary, this day the group feeds the poor in many cities in Spain.