
EUSKAL SANTUAK:
Basque Saints |
There are reputedly
twelve saints of Basque origin that include. This list is
still being investigated to confirm this number. Check back
soon.
St. Martin of the Ascension. (Feb. 6)
Franciscan martyr of
Japan. He was born at Bergara, Gipuzkoa and became a Franciscan in
1586 . Martin was assigned to Mexico and Manila, in the Philippines,
before serving in Japan. He was crucified at Nagasaki and was
canonized in 1862.
St. Leon
Sts. Emeterio and Celedonia
St. Prudencio
St. Michael Garikoitz. (Feastday
May 14) Michael was born on
April 15, 1797, the eldest son of Arnold and Gratianne Garicoits.
They were poor and Michael was hired out as a shepherd boy to a
farmer. His desire to become a priest always met with "No, we are
too poor" by his parents, but his grandmother talked the matter over
with the parish priest. Through his efforts Michael earned his
expenses for college by working after school hours for the clergy
and in the bishop's kitchen. In December 1823 he was ordained priest
in Bayonne cathedral by Bishop d'Astros. Michael's first assignment
was at Cambo where he remained two years. He did much to revive
religion there, combat Jansenism by the custom of frequent communion
as well as by introducing Sacred Heart devotions. Father Garicoits'
next call was to a professorship in the senior seminary for priests
at Betharram, and then to be superior. In 1838, Father Garicoits
drew up a constitution largely based on that of the sons of St.
Ignatius. Like them, his missionaries were to take life vows and to
spread far and wide. Associates gathered round him at Betharram, and
all seemed promising, when the bishop disapproved of his idea of
founding a new congregation. Not till 1852 was the community allowed
to choose its own superior, and even then it was tied down by
regulations which hampered its activity. Father Garicoits submitted,
but with a heavy heart. He died on Ascension day, May 14, 1863.
Fourteen years later the Society of Priests of the Sacred Heart of
Betharram was approved by the Holy See on the lines the founder had
laid down. St. Michael Garicoits, who was at one time spiritual
director of the Basque house of the Daughters of the Cross at Igon,
received much encouragement in his foundation from St. Elizabeth
Bichier des Ages, and he was all his life a close friend of her
congregation in the Basque country. Both of them were canonized in
the year 1947. His feast day is May 14th.
St.
Ferminus
St. Ignatius of Loyola
St. Saturnino
St. Francis Xavier
St. Valentine of Berriochoa
St. Vincenta Maria Lopez Vicuna
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