Turibius of Mongrovejo
| Saint Turibius de Mongrovejo | |
|---|---|
 Saint Toribio de Mongrovejo | |
| Born |
November 16, 1538 Mayorga de Campos, Kingdom of León, Spain  |
| Died |
March 23, 1606 (aged 67) Saña, Peru  |
| Honored in | Roman Catholic Church; Episcopal Church (United States) |
| Beatified | July 2, 1679, Rome by Pope Innocent XI |
| Canonized | 1726, Rome by Pope Benedict XIII |
| Feast |
March 23 (RCC) August 23 (EC USA) |
| Patronage | Native rights; Latin American bishops; Peru |
Turibius of Mongrovejo (or Toribio Alfonso de Mogrovejo) (16 November 1538 – 23 March 1606) was a Spanish missionary Archbishop of Lima.
Biography
Born in Mayorga de Campos, Valladolid, Spain, of noble family and highly educated, Turibius was named after another Spanish saint, Turibius of Astorga. He became professor of law at the highly reputed University of Salamanca. His learning and virtuous reputation led to his appointment as Grand Inquisitor of Spain by King Philip II on the Court of the Inquisition at Granada. During this time, he was ordained priest in 1578 and sent to Peru. He was named Archbishop of Lima, Peru, in May 1579.
He arrived at Paita, Peru, 600 miles (970 km) from Lima, on 24 May 1581. He began his mission work by travelling to Lima on foot, baptizing and teaching the natives. His favourite topic was: "Time is not our own, and we must give a strict account of it." Three times he traversed the 450,000 square kilometers (170,000 sq mi) of his diocese, generally on foot, frequently defenceless and often alone; exposed to tempests, torrents, deserts, wild beasts, tropical heat, fevers and sometimes threats from hostile tribes; baptizing and confirming nearly one half million souls, among them St. Rose of Lima and St. Martin de Porres.
He built roads, schoolhouses and chapels, many hospitals and convents, and at Lima, in 1591, founded the first seminary in the western hemisphere. He inaugurated the first part of the third Lima Cathedral on 2 February 1604.
Turibius assembled thirteen diocesan synods and three provincial councils. He was seen as a champion of the rights of the natives against the Spanish masters. "There was great opposition to Turibius from the governors of Peru whose authority he challenged," Elizabeth Hallam has written. "He learned local dialects so that he could communicate with–-and convert–-the native peoples, and he was a strong and effective champion of their rights."
Years before he died, he predicted the day and hour of his death. At Pacasmayo he contracted fever, but continued labouring to the last, arriving at Sana (or Saña) in a dying condition. Dragging himself to the sanctuary he received the Viaticum, expiring shortly after on 23 March 1606.
Veneration
Turibius de Mogrovejo was beatified by Pope Innocent XI in the year 1679 and was later canonized by Pope Benedict XIII in the year 1726. His liturgical feast was once celebrated on April 27, but currently on March 23. His cult was once confined mainly to South America, but now more widespread because of his pioneering reforms.
Turibius is honored together with Martin de Porres and Rosa de Lima with a feast day on the liturgical calendar of the Episcopal Church (USA) on August 23.
Notes
- ^ Elizabeth Hallam (ed.), Saints: Who They Are and How They Help You (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1994), 27.
Sources and references
-
"St. Toribio Alfonso Mogrovejo". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. 1913. - TURIBIUS of Mogroveio
- His biography at Lives of the Saints
- (Spanish) Short biography at MSN Encarta
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "St. Toribio Alfonso Mogrovejo". Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company.