Replies

Collect:
Lord, though the apostolic work of St. Turibius and his unwavering love of truth, you helped your Church to grow. May your chosen people continue to grow in faith and holiness. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Recipes:

» Aji de Gallina
» Arroz con Leche

Activities:

» Namedays
» What is a Nameday?

Prayers:

March 23, 2006

Memorial of St. Turibius de Mogrovejo, bishop

St. Turibius, a Spaniard, served God from his infancy. Appointed Archbishop of Lima, he landed in South America in 1581. He died March 23, 1606, having, by his indefatigable zeal and by the boundlessness of his charity, literally renewed the face of the Church of Peru. Before the reform of the Roman Calendar in 1969 his feast was celebrated on April 27.

The Station is at the church of Sts. Cosmas and Damian, physicians. These martyrs were twin brothers originating from Arabia. They practiced medicine in Aegea, Cilicia, but accepted no money from the poor. Their beautiful Christian lives edified the pagans and converted many to the Faith. They were arrested in the persecution of Diocletian, subjected to torture, and finally beheaded.

St. Turibius de Mogrovejo
Together with Rose of Lima, Turibius is the first known saint of the New World, serving the Lord in Peru, South America, for twenty-six years.

Born in Spain and educated for the law, he became so brilliant a scholar that he was made professor of law at the University of Salamanca and eventually became chief judge of the Inquisition at Granada. He succeeded too well. But he was not sharp enough a lawyer to prevent a surprising sequence of events.

When the archbishopric of Lima in Spain's Peruvian colony became vacant, it was decided that Turibius was the man needed to fill the post: He was the one person with the strength of character and holiness of spirit to heal the scandals that had infected that area.

He cited all the canons that forbade giving laymen ecclesiastical dignities, but he was overruled. He was ordained priest and bishop and sent to Peru, where he found colonialism at its worst. The Spanish conquerors were guilty of every sort of oppression of the native population. Abuses among the clergy were flagrant, and he devoted his energies (and suffering) to this area first.

He began the long and arduous visitation of an immense archdiocese, studying the language, staying two or three days in each place, often with neither bed nor food. He confessed every morning to his chaplain, and celebrated Mass with intense fervor. Among those to whom he gave the Sacrament of Confirmation was Saint Rose of Lima, and possibly Saint Martin de Porres. After 1590 he had the help of another great missionary, Saint Francis Solanus.

His people, though very poor, were sensitive, dreading to accept public charity from others. Turibius solved the problem by helping them anonymously.

When Turibius undertook the reform of the clergy as well as unjust officials, he naturally suffered opposition. Some tried, in human fashion, to "explain" God's law in such a way as to sanction their accustomed way of life. He answered them in the words of Tertullian, "Christ said, 'I am the truth'; he did not say, 'I am the custom."'

Patron: Peru, Latin American Bishops, Native Rights, (Also, Lawyers may seek his intercession because he was a Lawyer in Spain)

Things to Do:

Read more about St. Turibius.
St. Turibius started the first seminary in the Americas and was named the first male saint of the New World. Offer a rosary today for an increase in vocations and for those studying for the priesthood.
St. Turibius fought for social justice, championing the rights of the natives against the Spanish masters. Make a contribution to your local food pantry, volunteer at a crisis pregnancy center, cut out pictures of children from third world countries and make a display in your home to encourage your children to make sacrifices or to contribute money to the less fortunate.
Cook a Peruvian dish in honor of St. Turibius.

Anyone for translating this?

Santo Toribio de Mogrovejo

Santo Toribio de Mogrovejo

23 de Marzo

Nació en Mayorga, España, en 1538. Los datos acerca de este Arzobispo, personaje excepcional en la historia de sudamérica, producen asombro y maravilla. El santo era graduado en derecho, y había sido nombrado Presidente del Tribunal de Granada (España) cuando el emperador Felipe II al conocer sus grandes cualidades le propuso al Sumo Pontífice para que lo nombrara Arzobispo de Lima. En 1581 llegó Toribio a Lima como Arzobispo, dedicándose con todas sus energías a lograr el progreso espiritual de sus súbditos. La ciudad estaba en una grave decadencia espiritual; los conquistadores cometían muchos abusos y los sacerdotes no se atrevían a corregirlos. Muchos para excusarse del mal que estaban haciendo, decían que esa era la costumbre. El arzobispo les respondió que Cristo es verdad y no costumbre. Y empezó a atacar fuertemente todos los vicios y escándalos. Las medidas enérgicas que tomó contra los abusos que se cometían, le atrajeron muchas persecuciones y atroces calumnias; el callaba y ofrecía todo por amor a Dios. Tres veces visitó completamente su inmensa arquidiócesis de Lima. En la primera vez gastó siete años recorriéndola. En la segunda vez duró cinco años y en la tercera empleó cuatro años. La mayor parte del recorrido era a pie. A veces en mula, por caminos casi intransitables, pasando de climas terriblemente fríos a climas ardientes. Logró la conversión de un enorme número de indios. Santo Toribio se propuso reunir a los sacerdotes y obispos de América en Sínodos o reuniones generales para dar leyes acerca del comportamiento que deben tener los católicos. Cada dos años reunía a todo el clero de la diócesis para un Sínodo y cada siete años a los de las diócesis vecinas. Fundó el primer seminario de América. Insistió y obtuvo que los religiosos aceptaran parroquias en sitios supremamente pobres. Casi duplicó el número de parroquias o centros de evangelización en su arquidiócesis. Cuando él llegó había 150 y cuando murió ya existían 250 parroquias en su territorio. Su generosidad lo llevaba a repartir a los pobres todo lo que poseía. El 23 de marzo de 1606, un Jueves Santo, murió en una capillita de los indios, en una lejana región, donde estaba predicando y confirmando a los indígenas. Estaba a 440 kilómetros de Lima. Santo Toribio tuvo el gusto de administrarle el sacramento de la confirmación a tres santos: Santa Rosa de Lima, San Francisco Solano y San Martín de Porres. El Papa Benedicto XIII lo declaró santo en 1726. En el Perú, se celebra litúrgicamente su fiesta el 27 de abril. Lea su biografía en la Enciclopedia Católica ingresando a http://www.enciclopediacatolica.com/t/toribiomogrovejo.htm

"Christ said, 'I am the truth'; he did not say, 'I am the custom."'

Great quote. Thank you for posting, I did not know about this saint.