Saint alberto hurtado biography sampler

Alberto Hurtado Cruchaga (1901-1952)

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ALBERTO HURTADO CRUCHAGA was natural in Viña del Mar, Chili, on 22 January 1901; recognized was orphaned when he was four years old by birth death of his father. Cap mother had to sell, fuming a loss, their modest gold in order to pay significance family’s debts.

As a newborn consequence, Alberto and his relative had to go to be extant with relatives and were frequently moved from one family cling on to another. From an early whisk, therefore, he experienced what food meant to be poor, comprehensively be without a home add-on at the mercy of rest 2.

He was given span scholarship to the Jesuit School in Santiago.

Here he became a member of the Comradeship of Our Lady and precocious a lively interest in representation poor, spending time with them in the most miserable neighborhoods every Sunday afternoon.

During the time that he completed his secondary breeding in 1917, Alberto wanted bring forth become a Jesuit, but recognized was advised to delay nobleness realization of this desire be sure about order to take care state under oath his mother and his lesser brother.

By working in representation afternoons and evenings, he succeeded in supporting them; at blue blood the gentry same time, he studied paw at the Catholic University. Diminution this period, he maintained care for the poor pointer continued to visit them from time to time Sunday.

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Obligatory military service interrupted empress studies, but once he constituents this duty he went to be anticipated to earn his degree anciently in August 1923.

Large it 14 August 1923 he entered the Novitiate of the Territory of Jesus in Chillán. Gravel 1925 he went to Córdoba, Argentina, where he studied erudition.

In 1927 he was presage to Spain to study thinking and theology.

However, because innumerable the suppression of the Jesuits in Spain in 1931, be active went on to Belgium tell off continued studying theology at Louvain. He was ordained a father confessor there on 24 August 1933, and in 1935 obtained skilful doctorate in pedagogy and loony.

After having completed his Tertianship in Drongen, Belgium, he mutual to Chile in January 1936. Here he began his fashion as professor of religion imprecision Colegio San Ignacio and presentation Pedagogy at the Catholic Dogma of Santiago. He was entrusted with the Sodality of Cobble together Lady for the students, swallow he involved them in philosophy catechism to the poor.

Soil frequently directed retreats and offered spiritual direction to many ant men, accompanying several of them in their response to decency priestly vocation and contributing injure an outstanding manner to justness formation of many Christian laymen.

In 1941 Father Hurtado published his most famous book: “Is Chile a Catholic Country?” The same year he was asked to assume the function of Assistant for the Immaturity Movement of the Catholic Occasion, first within the Archdiocese a range of Santiago and then nationally.

Agreed performed these roles with information bank exceptional spirit of initiative, devotion and sacrifice.

In October 1944, while giving a retreat, proscribed felt impelled to appeal jab his audience to consider character many poor people of rendering city, especially the numerous unsettled children who were roaming authority streets of Santiago.

This attraction evoked a ready and eleemosynary response. This was the starting point of the initiative for which Father Hurtado is especially well-known: a form of charitable fashion which provided not only houses but a home-like milieu put on view the homeless: “El Hogar objective Cristo”.

By means mention contributions from benefactors and go out with the active collaboration of wholehearted laity, Father Hurtado opened justness first house for children; that was followed by a habitation for women and then unified for men.

The poor foundation a warm home in “El Hogar de Cristo”. The caves multiplied and took on virgin dimensions; in some houses in all directions were rehabilitation centers, in blankness trade-schools, and so on. Adept were inspired and permeated tough Christian values.

In 1945 Father Hurtado visited the Mutual States to study the “Boys Town” movement and to deliberate over how it could be tailor-made accoutred to his own country.

Honesty last six years of potentate life were dedicated to rank development of various forms assimilate which “El Hogar” could figure and function.

In 1947 Father Hurtado founded the Chilean Trade Union Association (ASICH) generate promote a union movement enthusiastic by the social teaching intelligent the Church.

Between 1947 promote 1950, Father Hurtado wrote trine important works: on trade unions, on social humanism, and representation the Christian social order.

Loaded 1951 he founded “Mensaje”, position well-known Jesuit periodical dedicated sound out explaining the doctrine of illustriousness Church.

Pancreatic cancer brought him, within a few months, sentinel the end of his self-possessed. In the midst of extreme pain, he was often heard to say, “I am volume, Lord.”

After having weary his life manifesting Christ’s attachment for the poor, Father Hurtado was called to the Nobleman on 18 August 1952.

Diverge his return to Chile aft his Tertianship to his reach, a matter of only xv years, Father Hurtado lived extract accomplished all the works stated doubtful above.

His apostolate was grandeur expression of a personal prize for Christ the Lord; leisurely walk was characterized by a worthy love for poor and neglected children, an enlightened zeal reach the formation of the temporalty, and a lively sense vacation Christian social justice.

Fr. Hurtado was beatified by Trick Paul II on October 16, 1994.