Blessed Marcelo Spínola y Maestre
Blessed Marcelo Spínola y Maestre (born January 14, 1835 AD in San Fernando, Cádiz, Spain; died January 19, 1906 AD in Seville, Spain) was a Spanish Catholic prelate, Cardinal Archbishop of Seville, and the founder of the Congregation of the Handmaids of the Divine Heart of Jesus (the Slave Sisters). Known for his charity to the poor and his pastoral zeal, he is venerated as a Blessed of the Church. His feast day is January 19.
A lawyer who became a priest, Marcelo Spínola served as bishop of several Spanish sees before being made Archbishop of Seville and, shortly before his death, a cardinal. He founded a religious congregation for the education and care of the poor and was beloved as the "cardinal of the poor." He was beatified in 1987.
Stored in Cargo: Blessed Marcelo Spínola y Maestre
| Blessed Marcelo Spínola y Maestre | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | January 19 |
| Profession | Lawyer; priest; Cardinal Archbishop of Seville; founder of the Handmaids of the Divine Heart of Jesus |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Handmaids of the Divine Heart of Jesus (Slave Sisters) |
| Patronage | The poor; the Archdiocese of Seville; lawyers who become priests |
| Attributes | Cardinal's robes; care of the poor; the Divine Heart of Jesus |
| Birthplace | San Fernando, Cádiz, Spain |
| Death Place | Seville, Spain |
| Cause of Death | Natural death; Cardinal Archbishop of Seville and founder of the Handmaids of the Divine Heart of Jesus; died at Seville |
| Primary Shrine | Cathedral of Seville, Spain |
Biography
Marcelo Spínola y Maestre was born on January 14, 1835, at San Fernando, in the province of Cádiz, Spain, into a noble family. He studied law and practiced for a time as a lawyer, but then felt called to the priesthood and was ordained in 1864. As a young priest he was noted for his dedication to the poor and to pastoral work in Seville.
His gifts and holiness led to his advancement in the Church. He was made an auxiliary bishop and then successively Bishop of Coria, Bishop of Málaga, and, from 1896, Archbishop of Seville. In each place he was known for his tireless pastoral care, his defense of the faith, his promotion of the Catholic press and of social and charitable works, and above all his personal poverty and boundless charity to the needy, which earned him the name "the cardinal of the poor."
To carry on works of education and charity, he founded the Congregation of the Handmaids of the Divine Heart of Jesus, whose sisters devoted themselves to the teaching and care of the poor and of children.
In 1905 Pope Pius X named him a cardinal, but he received the honor only shortly before his death. Marcelo Spínola y Maestre died at Seville on January 19, 1906. He was beatified on March 29, 1987, by Pope John Paul II. His feast is kept on January 19.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: None
Death location: None
Notable location:
Notable location:
Notable location:
Notable location:
Notable location:
Dynamic content
Parishes
No parishes dedicated to Marcelo Spínola y Maestre have been added to the database yet.
Media
No media found for this saint.
Shrines
Dynamic shrines
No results
No shrines where this saint is the primary saint.
Feast day
January 19
Prayers
Authored
There are prayers authored by this saint in prayers list yet.
Intercessory
There are no prayers asking for this saint's intercession in prayers list yet.