Saint of the Month - September 2012: Saint Juan Macias

St. Juan Macias

A Friend of the Poor Souls

Feast: September 18th

Born into nobility in 1585 at Ribera del Fresno, Spain, little Juan Macias lost both his parent while still a young boy.  Adding to his already sad situation, a reversal in fortunes also caused the financial ruin of his family, leaving Juan in complete poverty.  Having no other recourse but to work to support himself, he sailed to Peru where he labored as a humble shepherd in a South American cattle ranch.  During this solitary period in his life he developed a deep spirituality as well as a desire to consecrate himself completely to God.

Juan’s religious vocation was realized in January 1622 when he was accepted into the Dominican monastery in Lima, Peru.  He was assigned as the doorkeeper for the friary and touched the lives of the poor and the sick with his natural kindness and generosity.  He was also noted for his great devotion to the Poor Souls in Purgatory with whom he had mystical contact. 

The Poor Souls often appeared to him in large numbers, begging for his prayers, and Bro. Juan responded generously by performing voluntary penances on their behalf, and offering his Holy Communions and endless rosaries to help deliver them.  Upon their release into Heaven, the grateful souls sometimes reappeared to him in their glory to give him thanks for his assistance, and to encourage him in his charitable disposition towards those still undergoing purgation.  Juan was also encouraged in his worthy efforts to assist the Poor Souls by another great Saint who happened be a friar in the same monastery - St. Martin de Porres, the great Apostle of Charity in Lima.

Bro. Juan died of natural causes on September 16th, 1645 and was greatly mourned by his religious brethren and fellow citizens.  His Beatification was celebrated in 1837 and his Canonization in 1975.  Tradition reports that he freed over a million souls from Purgatory just through his own personal efforts(!), so not surprisingly, he is considered the “Patron Saint of the Poor Souls“.  St. Juan's sacred body is venerated in the chapel of his friary, where it remains remarkably well-preserved.  May the faithful imitate him in his love and devotion to the dearly departed. 

A Reflection
"...It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sin." 
~ 2nd Maccabees 12:45

A Short Prayer

Grant unto the Poor Souls, O Lord, eternal rest and let perpetual light shine upon them.  May they rest in peace.  Amen.