Mariano de la Mata

Mariano de la Mata
Born	December 31, 1905
Died	April 5, 1983
Beatified	5 November 2006, São Paulo, Brazil by Benedict XVI

Mariano de la Mata Aparicio (December 31, 1905 – April 5, 1983) was an Augustinian priest and missionary to Brazil. Known as the “messenger of charity,” he was declared Venerable by Pope John Paul II and Beatified by Pope Benedict XVI.^[1]

Biography

Mariano was born in Barrio de la Puebla, La Puebla de Valdavia, Province of Palencia, Spain on December 31, 1905. When he entered the Order of Saint Augustine in 1921, he was the fourth brother in his family to do so. He entered the Augustinian seminary in Valladolid and continued his studies at Santa María de la Vid in Burgos. He was vested in the habit of an Augustinian novice on 9 September 1921, and a year later made his First Profession of Augustinian vows.^[2] In 1926 Mariano was transferred to the Monastery of Santa María de la Vid near Burgos, Spain, where he completed his theological courses. He took Augustinian solemn vows on 23 January 1927, and became a priest on 25 July 1930.He was briefly appointed to teach at an Augustinian school at Llanes (Asturias, Spain), and then in July 1931 was sent to the Augustinian Viceprovince of Brazil.

Mariano de La Mata Aparico,Barrio De la Puebla

He first worked in parish ministry for two years at Taquaritinga in the state of São Paulo. Two years later he was transferred to St Augustine College, where he taught natural sciences until 1949. From 1942 to 1945 he was also the college's Administrator. From 1945 to 1948 he led the Order of Saint Augustine in Brazil as the Prior Viceprovincial. He continued his apostolate in São Paulo State as professor and superior in Engenheiro Schmitt, where the vice provincial seminary was located.^[3]

In 1961 Fr Mariano returned to teach at St Augustine College and also took on the duties of spiritual director of the St Rita of Cascia Workshop^[1] and parochial vicar of the Church of St Augustine. Fr Mariano is remembered as the messenger of charity and for his educational work among the neediest of Brazil. A man rich in empathy, he tended to the needs of those who surrounded him, and went out of his way to visit the sick regularly, as was the case with S. Teixera. Fr Mariano visited this student of his for an entire year on a regular basis, giving him private lessons during his illness. Another student, H. Gentile, was visited almost every day during his 60-day hospital stay by the holy priest, notwithstanding the great distance and steep climb the prelate had to endure.^[3]

In character, Mariano is remembered as active and enterprising, generous, open and communicative, a person of affection, simplicity and kindness, with the smile always on his face.^[2] His heart was sensitive to the beauty of creation.^[3]

He organized more than 200 Saint Rita Workshops, which employed poor people to make sturdy clothing that the poor could afford. He was frequently seen walking down the streets of São Paulo on his way to pastoral visits, even as he aged and his strength waned and his vision grew dim. Mariano was diagnosed with cancer in early 1983. He underwent surgery to remove a malignant tumor, but the cancer continued to spread. He died April 5, 1983. His body rests beside the altar of his beloved Virgin of Consolation in the Church of Saint Augustine in São Paulo.^[4]

Veneration

Father Mariano Moved practised the Christian virtues to a high degree and faithfully observed his religious vows. He remains an important model for all simply because he did nothing extraordinary; rather, it was through the faithful fulfilment of his daily duties that he reached the heights of sanctity.^[5]

The cause for Mariano de la Mata Aparicio's Beatification was officially opened on the part of the Holy See on 14 December 1996. On 20 December 2004 Pope John Paul II, recognizing his heroic virtues, declared him Venerable.^[5] A miracle attributed to the intercession of Mariano de la Mata - the healing of a child who had been run over by a truck - was unanimously approved February 2, 2005 at the Ordinary Theological Meeting of the Congregation for Causes of Saints. Mariano was beatified November 5, 2006 in São Paulo, Brazil.^[6]

Notes

Stages of canonization in the Catholic Church

Servant of God → Venerable → Blessed → Saint

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