St. Turibius de Mogrovejo

CURRICULUM VITAE

He came from Spain. He studied law in Salamanca. He was appointed president of the Inquisition tribunal in Granada by Philip II. From the age of 43, he was the Archbishop of Lima, the capital of Peru, for 25 years. He sympathised with the indigenous peoples, who were suffering under Spanish rule, and tended to transfer their hatred to Christianity. Turibius learned the languages of the native tribes. He travelled throughout the country, preaching the word of God and founding churches, monasteries, schools,organize and hospitals. Full of zeal, he held synods and councils that stimulated religious life. He consistently defended the rights of the Church and the natives, for whom he showed great devotion.

CV FOR MEDITATION

REPRESENTATIVE OF CHRIST’S LOVE IN PERU

He was born on 26 November 1538 in Mayorza, León, Spain. He studied law in Salamanca. In 1573, King Philip II appointed him chief judge of the Inquisition Court in Granada. Five years later, Philip II invited him to a meeting regarding the situation in Peru, which was then a Spanish colony. Since 1575, it had been impossible to find a suitable successor to the first Archbishop of Lima, who had died. A capable person was needed to manage the challenging circumstances in the developing colony and organise and direct missionary activity. The king became convinced that Turibius was the right man for the job. Although Turibius resisted, the king submitted a proposal to Pope Gregory XIII, who appointed him Archbishop of Lima in March 1579. Turibius was not even a priest and had not expected such a career. After praying, he decided how to proceed, and the result was his ‘fiat’ — ‘Be it done unto me according to your will, Lord’. After preparing for the role, he received all the necessary ordinations the following year and, in August, travelled to South America. He began his archbishopric service at the age of 43, in living conditions different to those he was accustomed to. Nevertheless, he achieved the maximum because he invested all his intelligence, as well as all his physical and mental strength, in his new vocation.

He reinstated church discipline and immediately began to protect the Indians from the injustices they suffered at the hands of the colonisers. He defended and helped the poor and oppressed, regardless of race. During the first seven years, he travelled through the entire diocese, covering more than a million square kilometres, using basic transport methods. The area had no roads suitable for ordinary means of transport. As early as 1583, he convened a provincial council focused on spiritual journeys in South America. There, they compiled a large and small catechism, a directory for confessors,sympathizedcolonizerstraveled and a preaching manual. These were printed in Spanish and two Indian languages.

Turibius also learnt the language of the indigenous people. Rather than representing the kingdom of Philip II, he wanted to represent the kingdom of Christ’s love and peace. Becoming their servant won them over to Christ. He built many new churches, monasteries, schools, and hospitals. In 1591, he established the first seminary on the continent. He insisted that teaching indigenous languages should remain mandatory for priests and monks.

He sought the religious and moral upliftment of the clergy and the faithful through thirteen diocesan synods. He also convened two more provincial councils. He undertook three further pastoral visits, visiting each parish three times. He helped, encouraged, comforted and sometimes admonished. On his final journey through the diocese, he made a great effort to reach the settlement of Sanja, where he died among the indigenous faithful at the age of 68. His remains were buried in Lima.learnedkilometers

Pope Innocent XI declared him blessed in 1679 and Benedict XIII declared him a saint in 1726.

RESOLUTION, PRAYER

I will pray to the Holy Spirit to be willing to accept any task God may ask of me.