杏MAP导航

By Edoardo Giribaldi

On Sunday 杏MAP导航 Francis paid tribute to a nineteenth-century Spanish priest, Fr. José Torres Padilla, whom he recalled 鈥渄istinguished himself as a priest confessor and spiritual guide, bearing witness to great charity with those in need.鈥� Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, beatified Fr. Torres Padilla on Saturday 9 November at a celebration in Seville, Spain. The 杏MAP导航 prayed that his example may 鈥渟ustain priests in their ministry鈥� as he called for a round of applause of all those present in the Square for the newly beatified.

In his homily for the beatification in Seville鈥檚 Cathedral, Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, described Fr. José Torres Padilla in his great generosity, 鈥渁 type of payday lender鈥� for his works of free charity. He noted he was 鈥渁n atypical canon" having those on the margins of society as his friends, drawing close to the needy in Seville's most difficult neighborhoods where few dared to enter. And he demonstrated a 鈥渄eep unity with the Lord,鈥� the primary source of his 鈥渋nner strength.鈥�

Scripture imagery mirrored in life

The Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints drew a parallel between the Spanish priest and a commentary by Isidore of Seville on the text chosen for the liturgy from the book of the Prophet Ezekiel. 鈥淎 stream of water flowed out from under the threshold of the temple,鈥� the Cardinal recalled, then explaining the double meaning of the image: 鈥淏aptism, which is the water that quenches and restores all who thirst,鈥� but also 鈥済iven that the prophetic vision speaks of a water flowing from the right side of the temple,鈥� a reference 鈥渢o the open side of Christ crucified鈥� from which 鈥漛lood and water flowed out.鈥�

鈥淏eing contemplative in action鈥�

Such an image, of a torrent 鈥渢hat brings life, renews and produces much fruit, I like to attribute to the new Blessed Fr. José Torres Padilla,鈥� the Cardinal said, calling him an 鈥渆ver-faithful priest鈥� and 鈥渞eady to give of himself, to go out of himself to go with charity to others.鈥� A quality that brought out in the Spanish priest 鈥渢he unity of life鈥� and 鈥渂eing contemplative in action.鈥�

Study, meditation and concrete service

Cardinal Semeraro then described various traits of Blessed Fr. Torres Padilla's personality, such as his ability to combine prayer and study: 鈥淗e would spend two hours studying and three hours meditating on what he had studied. But this did not stop him from devoting much time during his days to the service of those most in need. 

On the 鈥渨rong side鈥� of Seville

A life lived 鈥渋n poverty鈥� - he dressed only in a single 鈥減atched cassock鈥� - and drew close to the needy and the sick, often relegated to the neighborhoods on the 鈥渨rong side鈥� of the Guadalquivir, the river that divides Seville, where 鈥渃rime鈥� prevailed. Yet, the Spanish priest went there without any fear, cleaning and fixing their beds in his service to them.

The tomb of Blessed Fr. José Torres Padilla

The example of the new Blessed

Of Blessed Fr. Torres Padilla, Cardinal Semeraro also recalled his 鈥渟piritual direction,鈥� which was capable of making his 鈥渞eputation for holiness鈥� known to the point of earning him the nickname 鈥淓l Santero (the Saint Maker).鈥� Beneficiaries of this salutary 鈥渃ontagion鈥� include St. Angela of the Cross, who founded the Institute of the Sisters of the Cross under the direction of the Spanish priest.

How holiness encourages one another

鈥淗oliness gives encouragement to one another,鈥� Cardinal Semeraro concluded. A unity that mirrors the Divine unity and which, reaffirming 杏MAP导航 Francis' words, is the 鈥渕atrix of the bond between us Christians鈥� and the 鈥渂urning furnace of love鈥� capable of burning 鈥渙ur selfishness, our prejudices, our inner and outer divisions鈥� and an experience that is 鈥渃ertainty鈥� of a final 鈥渃ommunion with God.鈥�