| Josep Manyanet i Vives | |
|---|---|
| Born | 7 January 1833 Tremp, Catalonia, Spain |
| Died | 17 December 1901 (aged 68) San Andreu del Palomar, Barcelona, Spain |
| Honored in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 25 November 1984 by Pope John Paul II |
| Canonized | 16 May 2004 by Pope John Paul II |
| Feast | 17 December |
Josep Manyanet i Vives (7 January 1833 – 17 December 1901) was a Catalan priest who is venerated as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church. He founded the Sons of the Holy Family, a congregation of Catholic priests.
Contents |
Josep (also known as José or Joseph) was born into a large and pious family in the municipality of Tremp, Catalonia, Spain, and at the age of five he was offered to the Blessed Virgin Mary by his mother. He received his education with the Piarist Fathers in Barbastro, Aragon, and then went on to be trained in the theological institutes of Lleida and La Seu d'Urgell.[1]
He was ordained to the priesthood on 9 April 1859 and went on to become the private secretary to the Bishop of Urgell, Josep Caixal i Estradé. Josep's other priestly tasks included being the seminary librarian, the chancery administrator and also the secretary for pastoral visitations.
In 1864, Josep founded the Congregation of the Sons of the Holy Family which in 1874 was followed by the Missionary Daughters of the Holy Family of Nazareth. He went on to found a number of schools and ministerial centers in several Spanish towns and also wrote books and papers which were aimed at encouraging devotion to the Holy Family.[1]
Josep was subject to prolonged, physical illnesses during his life, including open sores on his side, which he labelled "God's mercies" for 16 long years. He died on 17 December 1901, at his school "Jesús, María y José" in Barcelona; his last words were in prayer: "Jesus, Mary and Joseph, may I breathe forth my soul in peace with you."[1]
His remains are kept in a burial chapel at the same school were he died.
Today, Josep Manyanet i Vives is recognized and venerated as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on 25 November 1984 and canonized on 16 May 2004, also by Pope John Paul II. His feast day is on 17 December.