Born at Segovia in Spain, 25 July, 1532; died at
Majorca, 31 October, 1617. On account of the similarity
of names he is often confounded with Father Rodriguez
the author of "Christian Perfection", who though eminent
in his holiness was never canonized. The Saint was a
Jesuit lay-brother who entered the Society at the age of
forty. He was the son of a wool merchant who had been
reduced to poverty when Alfonso was still young. At the
age of twenty-six he married Mary Suarez, a woman of
his own station, and at thirty-one found himself a
widower with one surviving child, the other two having
died previously. From that time he began a life of prayer
and mortification, although separated from the world
around him. On the death of his third child his thoughts
turned to a life in some religious order. Previous
associations had brought him into contact with the first
Jesuits who had come to Spain, Bl. Peter Faber among
others, but it was apparently impossible to carry out his
purpose of entering the Society, as he was without
education, having only had an incomplete year at a new
college begun at Alcala by Francis Villanueva. At the
age of thirty-nine he attempted to make up this
deficiency by following the course at the College of
Barcelona, but without success. His austerities had also
undermined his health. After considerable delay he was
finally admitted into the Society of Jesus as a
lay-brother, 31 January, 1571. Distinct novitiates had
not as yet been established in Spain, and Alfonso
began his term of probation at Valencia or Gandia -- this
point is a subject of dispute -- and after six months was
sent to the recently-founded college at Majorca, where
he remained in the humble position of porter for forty-six
years, exercising a marvelous influence on the
sanctification not only of the members of the household,
but upon a great number of people who came to the
porter's lodge for advice and direction. Among the
distinguished Jesuits who came under his influence was
St. Peter Clavier, who lived with him for some time at
Majorca, and who followed his advice in asking for the
missions of South America. The bodily mortifications
which he imposed on himself were extreme, the
scruples and mental agitation to which he was subject
were of frequent occurrence, his obedience absolute,
and his absorption in spiritual things even when
engaged on most distracting employments, continual. It
has often been said that he was the author of the well
known "Little Office of the Immaculate Conception", and
the claim is made...