Juan de Prado
| Blessed Juan de Prado O.F.M. | |
|---|---|
| Priest; Martyr | |
| Born |
c. 1563 Morgobresio, León, Habsburg Spain |
| Died |
24 May 1631 (aged 68) Marrakesh, Morocco |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 24 May 1728, Saint Peter's Basilica, Papal States by Pope Benedict XIII |
| Feast | 24 May |
| Attributes |
|
| Patronage | Missionaries |
Blessed Juan de Prado (c. 1563 - 24 May 1631) was a Spanish Roman Catholic priest and a professed member from the Order of Friars Minor.[1] He served as part of the missions in Muslim Morocco at the request of Pope Urban VIII and bought much solace to the small Christian population there before the ruler had him murdered.[2]
Pope Benedict XIII confirmed his beatification in mid-1728 after confirming that the priest had been murdered in hatred of his Christian faith.
Life
Juan de Prado was born circa 1563 to nobles and was orphaned of both parents sometime prior to 1568. He underwent theological studies at the college at Salamanca prior to his ordination as a priest.[1]
He entered the Order of Friars Minor in 1584 and in 1620 was appointed as the Provincial Minister of the Franciscan province he was part of until 1623. Pope Urban VIII dispatched Prado and two other missionaries to evangelize to the small Christian population in Morocco in 1630 and he departed on 27 November from Cadiz and later arrived for his mission in Marrakesh.[1] He evangelized and provided comfort to the faithful there while also administering the sacraments to them.[2]
The Marrakesh ruler had him imprisoned and tortured in 1631 - the other two friars were murdered - and was burned to death after having his head struck. He was imprisoned in chains and his hands and feet were shackled; the king had him scourged and himself struck him on the head with a sword before ordering him to be burnt to death.[2]
Beatification
Pope Benedict XIII confirmed - on 24 May 1728 - that the late Franciscan had been killed "in odium fidei" (in hatred of the faith) and used this confirmation for the approval of the formal beatification.
References
- 1 2 3 "Blessed John del Prado". Saints SQPN. 19 May 2015. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
- 1 2 3 "Blessed John of Prado". Roman Catholic Saints. Retrieved 12 November 2016.