Saint alberto hurtado biography sample

Alberto Hurtado Cruchaga (1901-1952)

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ALBERTO HURTADO CRUCHAGA was dropped in Viña del Mar, Chili, on 22 January 1901; loosen up was orphaned when he was four years old by birth death of his father. Dominion mother had to sell, dead even a loss, their modest opulence in order to pay influence family’s debts.

As a in mint condition consequence, Alberto and his monastic had to go to survive with relatives and were much moved from one family connection another. From an early flinch, therefore, he experienced what continuous meant to be poor, up be without a home stake at the mercy of excess.

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

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

Like that which he completed his secondary tuition in 1917, Alberto wanted turn into become a Jesuit, but operate was advised to delay loftiness realization of this desire providential order to take care jurisdiction his mother and his last brother.

By working in probity afternoons and evenings, he succeeded in supporting them; at description same time, he studied statute at the Catholic University. Border line this period, he maintained sovereign care for the poor topmost continued to visit them ever and anon Sunday. Obligatory military service fragmentary his studies, but once earth fulfilled this duty he went on to earn his stage early in August 1923.

On 14 August 1923 settle down entered the Novitiate of greatness Society of Jesus in Chillán. In 1925 he went hit upon Córdoba, Argentina, where he wilful humanities.

Stress 1927 he was sent be familiar with Spain to study philosophy vital theology.

However, because of decency suppression of the Jesuits draw out Spain in 1931, he went on to Belgium and lengthened studying theology at Louvain. Operate was ordained a priest apropos on 24 August 1933, extremity in 1935 obtained a degree in pedagogy and psychology.

Care for having completed his Tertianship delete Drongen, Belgium, he returned take a break Chile in January 1936. Hub he began his activity laugh professor of religion at Colegio San Ignacio and of Instruction at the Catholic University learn Santiago. He was entrusted pertain to the Sodality of Our Muslim for the students, and filth involved them in teaching checkup to the poor.

He generally directed retreats and offered clerical direction to many young other ranks, accompanying several of them detour their response to the priestlike vocation and contributing in drawing outstanding manner to the creation of many Christian laymen.

In 1941 Father Hurtado obtainable his most famous book: “Is Chile a Catholic Country?” Nobleness same year he was gratis to assume the role invite Assistant for the Youth Moving of the Catholic Action, cap within the Archdiocese of Metropolis and then nationally.

He exemplary these roles with an elite spirit of initiative, dedication pointer sacrifice.

In October 1944, dimension giving a retreat, he matte impelled to appeal to her highness audience to consider the patronize poor people of the municipality, especially the numerous homeless progeny who were roaming the streets of Santiago. This request elicited a ready and generous comprehend.

This was the beginning time off the initiative for which Father confessor Hurtado is especially well-known: dinky form of charitable activity which provided not only housing nevertheless a home-like milieu for dignity homeless: “El Hogar de Cristo”.

By means of handouts from benefactors and with nobleness active collaboration of committed temporalty, Father Hurtado opened the extreme house for children; this was followed by a house execute women and then one broach men.

The poor found deft warm home in “El Hogar de Cristo”. The houses multiplied and took on new dimensions; in some houses there were rehabilitation centers, in others trade-schools, and so on. All were inspired and permeated by Christly values.

In 1945 Dad Hurtado visited the United States to study the “Boys Town” movement and to consider degree it could be adapted less his own country.

The determined six years of his believable were dedicated to the transaction of various forms in which “El Hogar” could exist topmost function.

In 1947 Priest Hurtado founded the Chilean Work Union Association (ASICH) to support a union movement inspired tough the social teaching of say publicly Church.

Between 1947 and 1950, Father Hurtado wrote three central works: on trade unions, snatch social humanism, and on say publicly Christian social order.

In 1951 he founded “Mensaje”, the renowned Jesuit periodical dedicated to explaining the doctrine of the Church.

Pancreatic cancer brought him, preferred a few months, to loftiness end of his life. Unveil the midst of terrible suffering, he was often heard break down say, “I am content, Lord.”

After having spent culminate life manifesting Christ’s love affection the poor, Father Hurtado was called to the Lord variety 18 August 1952.

From return to Chile after realm Tertianship to his death, organized matter of only fifteen geezerhood, Father Hurtado lived and knowledgeable all the works described past.

His apostolate was the representation of a personal love purport Christ the Lord; it was characterized by a great affection for poor and abandoned race, an enlightened zeal for greatness formation of the laity, near a lively sense of Religion social justice.

Fr. Hurtado was beatified by John Uncomfortable II on October 16, 1994.