My mom, who was an elementary school teacher, said that a lot of students that misbehaved in her class were altar boys. Were they given this duty by the priest to keep them out of trouble or was it a voluntary position.
One altar boy that was obedient and truly loved his work was St. John Berchmans. He was born on March 13, 1599 in Brabant, Belgium. He was a Jesuit seminarian who died on Aug. 12, 1621 in Rome, Italy, before he was ordained a priest.
St. John Berchmans was known as a kind person who lived an ordinary life. He is the patron saint of altar boys and girls. Canonized: 1888. His feast day is Nov. 25.
