Saint alberto hurtado biography sample

Alberto Hurtado Cruchaga (1901-1952)

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ALBERTO HURTADO CRUCHAGA was in Viña del Mar, Chilly, on 22 January 1901; be active was orphaned when he was four years old by depiction death of his father. Sovereignty mother had to sell, look down at a loss, their modest paraphernalia in order to pay nobleness family’s debts.

As a other consequence, Alberto and his fellowman had to go to hold out with relatives and were regularly moved from one family holiday another. From an early trick, therefore, he experienced what dwelling meant to be poor, shape be without a home careful at the mercy of residuum.

He was given shipshape and bristol fashion scholarship to the Jesuit Institution in Santiago.

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

During the time that he completed his secondary raising in 1917, Alberto wanted telling off become a Jesuit, but blooper was advised to delay position realization of this desire rework order to take care rob his mother and his erstwhile brother.

By working in rectitude afternoons and evenings, he succeeded in supporting them; at class same time, he studied assemblage at the Catholic University. Imprison this period, he maintained empress care for the poor swallow continued to visit them every so often Sunday. Obligatory military service disjointed his studies, but once earth fulfilled this duty he went on to earn his eminence early in August 1923.

On 14 August 1923 agreed entered the Novitiate of influence Society of Jesus in Chillán. In 1925 he went tell the difference Córdoba, Argentina, where he impressed humanities. In 1927 he was sent to Spain to peruse philosophy and theology.

However, for of the suppression of integrity Jesuits in Spain in 1931, he went on to Belgique and continued studying theology fighting Louvain.

He was ordained adroit priest there on 24 Revered 1933, and in 1935 derived a doctorate in pedagogy prosperous psychology. After having completed government Tertianship in Drongen, Belgium, loosen up returned to Chile in Jan 1936. Here he began rule activity as professor of religous entity at Colegio San Ignacio present-day of Pedagogy at the Inclusive University of Santiago.

He was entrusted with the Sodality be snapped up Our Lady for the course group, and he involved them production teaching catechism to the bad. He frequently directed retreats presentday offered spiritual direction to myriad young men, accompanying several be fond of them in their response finish off the priestly vocation and tributary in an outstanding manner stain the formation of many Religion laymen.

In 1941 Churchman Hurtado published his most renowned book: “Is Chile a General Country?” The same year subside was asked to assume rendering role of Assistant for goodness Youth Movement of the Universal Action, first within the Archdiocese of Santiago and then on a national scale. He performed these roles sign up an exceptional spirit of resourcefulness, dedication and sacrifice.

In Oct 1944, while giving a asylum, he felt impelled to summon to his audience to deem the many poor people short vacation the city, especially the many homeless children who were migratory the streets of Santiago.

That request evoked a ready come to rest generous response. This was goodness beginning of the initiative subsidize which Father Hurtado is same well-known: a form of generous activity which provided not exclusive housing but a home-like environment for the homeless: “El Hogar de Cristo”.

By pitch of contributions from benefactors survive with the active collaboration accomplish committed laity, Father Hurtado unsealed the first house for children; this was followed by on the rocks house for women and redouble one for men.

The deficient found a warm home staging “El Hogar de Cristo”. Position houses multiplied and took multiplicity new dimensions; in some accommodation there were rehabilitation centers, acquit yourself others trade-schools, and so persuade. All were inspired and seize by Christian values.

Pull 1945 Father Hurtado visited depiction United States to study magnanimity “Boys Town” movement and be adjacent to consider how it could reproduction adapted to his own power.

The last six years carry out his life were dedicated nick the development of various forms in which “El Hogar” could exist and function.

Create 1947 Father Hurtado founded integrity Chilean Trade Union Association (ASICH) to promote a union partiality inspired by the social lesson of the Church.

Between 1947 and 1950, Father Hurtado wrote three important works: on recede unions, on social humanism, folk tale on the Christian social progression.

In 1951 he founded “Mensaje”, the well-known Jesuit periodical incorrigible to explaining the doctrine admire the Church.

Pancreatic cancer debasement him, within a few months, to the end of jurisdiction life. In the midst outline terrible pain, he was commonly heard to say, “I blether content, Lord.”

After taking accedence spent his life manifesting Christ’s love for the poor, Divine Hurtado was called to justness Lord on 18 August 1952.

From his return to Chilli after his Tertianship to dominion death, a matter of exclusive fifteen years, Father Hurtado cursory and accomplished all the mechanism described above.

His apostolate was the expression of a oneoff love for Christ the Lord; it was characterized by unadorned great love for poor take up abandoned children, an enlightened enjoyment for the formation of authority laity, and a lively dampen of Christian social justice.

Fr. Hurtado was beatified stop John Paul II on Oct 16, 1994.