A Filipino martyr named, Fr. Jose Maria de Manila, is on the way to sainthood after Vatican announced on Friday that the highest seat of Catholic power cleared the way for beatification of Manila-born Capuchin Franciscan priest.
The beatification ceremony of Fr. Jose Maria de Manila (Eugenio Sanz-Orozco Mortera) will be held this coming October 13 in a ceremony to be led by Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints.
Photo Courtesy: Inquirer.Net
Fr. Mortera was born in Manila to Spanish parents on September 5, 1880 and after his beatification he will be known as “Blessed Jose Maria de Manila.” He was a victim of the Spanish Civil War on August 17, 1936. Mortera was the son of Don Eugenio Sanz-Orozco, the last Spanish Mayor of Manila, and Dona Feliza Mortera.
According to his school records at the University of Sto. Tomas he was a “natural de Manila,” according to the statement made by the CBCP, quoting Fr. Eugenio Lopez, provincial minister of the Capuchin Philippine Province. His baptismal certificate was burned during the Liberation of Manila in 1945.
The next Filipino saint, next to San Lorenzo Ruiz and San Pedro Calungsod, Fr. Jose Maria de Manila grew up in Manila, and spent his early year at Ateneo de Manila, San Juan de Letran and UST. His records in Spain also states that he was born in Manila.
Fr. Mortera was ordained priest on November 30, 1910, he zealously preached in Spain and longed to proclaim in his native land. On July 20, 1936, several religious, including Mortera, were compelled to abandon their converts in Madrid due to the acts of violence perpetuated by Anarchist and Marxist troops against the Christian religious and their ministers.
The announcement was first made through the CBCP (Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines) on Friday, July 19, 2013. For updated information regarding the third Filipino saint follow PhilNews.Ph on Facebook.