Saint of the Day: St. José Manyanet y Vives

Priest and Founder (1833-1901)

His life

+ José Manyanet was born in Tremp, Spain, in 1833. The son of peasant farmers, he began seminary studies at the age of twelve and was ordained a priest in 1859.

+ Following his ordination, he spent five years working in his hometown and, later, served in Barcelona. He was a well-known confessor, spiritual director, and catechist.

+ With the approval of his bishop, José established two new religious communities: the Sons of the Holy Family and the Missionary Daughters of the Holy Family of Nazareth. These communities promoted the honor and example of the Holy Family through Catholic education and in parochial ministry. He also published several books and created a new magazine, La Sagrada Familia.

+ Saint José also dreamed of building a temple dedicated to the Holy Family in Barcelona. The great architect Antonio Gaudi (who is himself a candidate for beatification) took on the project—begun in 1883 and still not finished—and which is now throughout the world as the Basilica of Sagrada Familia.

+ In his ministry, it is said that he never turned away a child in need of education and he always made time to visit the poor and the sick.

+ After suffering from poor health for several years, José Manyanet died on December 17, 1901; he was canonized in 2004.

Note: In the privileged days from December 17 to 23, the texts provided for prayer and reflection will be the “O” Antiphons, which are recited during Evening Prayer on each of these days. The closing prayer for each day will be the collect for the Mass of the day.

For prayer and reflection

O Wisdom, O holy Word of God, you govern all creation with your strong yet tender care. Come and show your people the way to salvation.

Prayer

O God, who see how your people
faithfully await the feast of the Lord’s Nativity,
enable us, we pray,
to attain the joys of so great a salvation
and to celebrate them always
with solemn worship and glad rejoicing.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(from The Roman Missal: Collect for the Third Sunday of Advent)
Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.