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Chronology of His Life
1877, February 25th
He was born in Seville on the 25th of February 1877. 1889, September He entered the Minor Seminary of Seville. 1901, September 29th He celebrated his first Mass at the Church of the Holy Trinity and entrusted himself to the intercession of Mary, Help of Christians. 1902 He was sent by the Archbishop of Seville, Palomares del Río (Sevilla) to preach a mission; went to the church, which he found dirty and abandoned. Kneeling before the abandoned tabernacle, before the Blessed Sacrament, Manuel Gonzalez thought the amount of abandoned shrines in the world, getting the charismatic grace that transformed his life and focused its Eucharistic works. 1902, March 1st He was appointed parish priest of San Pedro de Huelva. For 11 years he lived there until he was advocated as the auxiliary bishop of Málaga. 1915, December 6th Pope Benedict XV appointed Blessed Manuel as auxiliary bishop of Málaga. He remained there until the night of the 11th of May 1931, the proclamation of the Republic, where a revolt expelled him and the Palace was burnt, destroying everything. 1935, August 5th He was appointed bishop of Palencia by Pope Pius XI. 1939 During a visit to Zaragoza he fell seriously ill, and had to be transferred to Madrid for his medication. 1940, January 4th He died on the Hospital of Madrid. Before he died he asked to be buried at the foot of the tabernacle. Fulfilling his wish, he was buried at the main altar of the Cathedral of Palencia. 1998, April 6th His heroic virtues were recognized by the Vatican. 2001, April 29th He was beatified by St. Pope John Paul II at St. Peter's Square 2016, October 16th He was Canonized by Pope Francis at St. Peter's Square with 6 other Blesseds |
His life was that of a pastor who was completely dedicated to his ministry, he used all the means at its disposal, the preaching, the publication of writings, the promotion of institutions for the development of Christian life and especially the testimony of an exemplary life, whose message continues to be deeply relevant. In fact, our existence would be deprived of an essential element if we had not first contemplate the face of Christ (cf. NMI, n. 16). What better contemplation of the Lord could there be than to worship and love in the sacrament of his real presence par excellence? The worship of the Eucharist is the center that strengthens the whole Christian life since the faithful, responding to the request of the Lord, "Stay here and keep watch with me" (Mt 26, 38), found in him the strength, consolation, and the firm hope the ardent charity which comes from the occult and mysterious presence, but real, of the Lord. |