By CAROLE BRESLIN
Which Asian country has the largest population of Catholics? As a former Spanish colony, the Philippines has 80 million Catholics out of a population of 100 million. This is not only the greatest number in one country, but also the greatest percentage of Catholics for any Asian nation.
From this country, two persons have been canonized and a third, although the son of Spanish parents, is considered a son of the Philippines and has recently been beatified by Pope Francis: Blessed José Maria de Manila.
The last Spanish mayor of Manila, Don Eugenio del Saz-Orozco, and his wife, Dona Felisa Mortera y Camocho, were the parents of Eugenio Saz-Orozco Jr., who later took the religious name of José Maria. Born on September 5, 1880 in Manila, Eugenio became both a son of the Philippines as well as a citizen of Spain.
Eugenio spent the early years of his life in study at Catholic schools in Manila. His classmates remembered him as a studious, pious, and devout student. His secondary education began at Ateneo in Manila, which he attended for two years. Next he attended the Colegio de San Juan de Letran for one year before completing his secondary education at the University of Santo Tomas.
This Catholic education left a lasting impact on Eugenio. He made a consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary by the time he was 16. In 1896, shortly after this, he left the country of his birth to go to Spain for more education. The rest of his family followed him shortly afterward, just before the end of Spanish rule in the Philippines.
Although his father insisted that he study law, Eugenio Jr. longed to become a Capuchin priest. Eugenio acceded to his father’s wishes and completed his law curriculum, but when he was done, after practicing law for only a few months, he then prepared to enter the Franciscan order of the Capuchins and his father did not stand in his way.
Knowing the holiness and the rigorous life of that great order, his parents held some concerns even though they were pleased with the determination of their son to serve God in such a way. Eugenio entered the order of the Capuchins on October 2, 1904.
He applied himself diligently to practice of their rule and in Lecaroz in the district of Navarra, Eugenio made his profession of simple vows on October 4, 1905. Three years later on October 18, 1908, he professed his solemn vows, and two years later on November 30, 1910, he was ordained a priest.
As his reputation for clarity, charity, and oratory spread, he received invitations to preach missions from all over Spain. As a result of his journeys, he witnessed how the people were suffering from World War I. He labored to alleviate their physical and their spiritual sufferings as he ministered to the sick and gave alms to the poor as his resources allowed.
In the meantime, the people of the Philippines were also suffering because of the Philippine Revolution that toppled the government in 1898. As the Spanish left after the fall of the Spanish East Indies, and a vacuum of leadership led to economic hardship in the country, Eugenio hoped to return to the land of his birth.
It is not clear why he never did return to the Philippines, but some indications are that his family prevented him from doing so.
In 1929, with effects of the crash on Wall Street, the Great Depression began to deeply affect the lives of the Spanish people. As the plight of the working class deteriorated, the Marxists fomented unrest among the people — and especially against the Catholic Church.
With the military uprising of July 1936, the Spanish Civil War broke out.
Thousands were martyred for the faith as persecution against the Church increased. Not only were many leaders of religious orders targeted and forced to flee, but also many priests left Spain. However, Fr. José Maria stayed in Spain, hiding in the home of a relative. Sadly, another relative soon revealed to the revolutionaries where Fr. José Maria was staying. They stormed the home of his relative and arrested Fr. José Maria in August of 1936.
On August 17, 1936, he was executed at the gardens of the Cuartel de la Montana, a military building in Madrid. Like those Catholics martyred by the government of Mexico, Fr. José died with these words on his lips, “Long live Christ the King!” From the Capuchin order, 32 were martyred: 20 priests and 12 lay religious.
The canonization process for a martyr is slightly different than that for other saints. Normally, when a cause is opened, the candidate for canonization is declared a servant of God. After the candidate’s life and his writings — and now recordings — are documented and approved, he is declared venerable. Next, to become beatified, a miracle is needed. Finally, after a second miracle is approved, the person is canonized.
For a martyr, if they died because of odium fidei or “hatred of the faith” — that is, if they gave supreme witness to the truth and died for being a follower of Christ — only one miracle is required.
Fr. José Maria, along with 521 other martyrs of the Spanish Civil War, was approved for beatification by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints on March 27, 2013.
These martyrs were beatified at the Beatification Rite and Mass celebrated by Angelo Cardinal Amato in Tarragona, Spain, on October 13, 2013. Their feast is November 6.
Dear Blessed José Maria de Manila and other martyrs of the Spanish Civil War, pray for us. We see the signs of persecution of Catholics increasing around our world and especially in our country.
Strengthen our resolve to always give faithful witness and proclaim as you did, “Long live Christ the King!” Amen.
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(Carole Breslin home-schooled her four daughters and served as treasurer of the Michigan Catholic Home Educators for eight years. For over ten years, she was national coordinator for the Marian Catechists, founded by Fr. John A. Hardon, SJ.)
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