Saint of the day October 24: San Rafael Guízar. Catholic Saints

Every October 24, the Church celebrates San Rafael Guízar y Valencia, the first Mexican bishop to be canonized. “Holy Bishop Guízar,” as people often call him, is the patron saint of the bishops of Mexico. Many, grateful for his dedication to the dispossessed, refer to him as “the Bishop of the Poor.”

catechist priest

San Rafael Guízar was born in Cotija, Mexico, in 1878. He was orphaned by his mother at the age of nine. He began his studies at the parochial school in his jurisdiction and later went to the Jesuit school. Little by little the desire to be a priest matured in him and he entered the seminary of the Diocese of Zamora. He was ordained in 1901 at the age of 23.

In Zamora, he dedicated himself fully to the apostolate and catechesis. I would travel through different cities and regions of Mexico. Later he would be appointed trainer of the diocesan seminary, promoting among the seminarians the love of the Eucharist and devotion to the Virgin.

An ingenious apostle in times of persecution

In 1911, in Mexico City, Guízar founded a religious newspaper with which he attempted to counter the government-sponsored campaign against the Catholic Church and denounce the fierce persecution that was being carried out against Catholics. Unfortunately, the newspaper was closed by the revolutionaries and the saint was persecuted to death. Father Rafael was then forced to live without a fixed address, amidst numerous other deprivations.

In order to carry out his ministry, he often disguised himself as a trinket seller, a musician or a naturopathic doctor, which allowed him to be close to those who needed physical and spiritual help. Thanks to his ingenuity and his doctor’s clothing, he was able to approach many sick and dying people and administer the sacraments to them.

Mexico after exile

Not being able to spend more time in Mexico, Father Rafael had to take refuge beyond the borders of his country, in the southern United States, then in Nicaragua and finally in Cuba. It was there that in August 1919 he received the appointment as bishop of Veracruz (Mexico), while in exile, by orders of Pope Benedict XV (p. 1914-1922). Being far from his homeland, he had to be consecrated in the Havana Cathedral. He was only able to take possession of his diocese the following year, in 1920.

Back in Mexico, Bishop Guízar dedicated himself to visiting the diocesan territory from one end to the other, while preaching in the parishes, spending long hours in the confessional or helping those in need. Recently arrived, at the beginning of 1920, an earthquake affected Veracruz significantly, and the new bishop had to become the organizer and leader of assistance to the victims.

Pastor in hiding

Mons. Guízar y Valencia was a pastor very concerned about the training of priests and the care of the faithful. Despite permanent persecution and harassment, he defied the government and kept the diocesan seminary operating, even if it was clandestine, for 15 long years, training around 300 seminarians in that period.

And high was the cost he paid for jealously watching over the souls that God placed in his hands: of the 18 years in which he was in charge of his diocese, nine were spent in exile or on the run, always under threat of death.

“I would give my life for the salvation of souls”

In 1937, while preaching in Córdoba, Veracruz, he suffered a heart attack that left him bedridden. Perhaps with justice, after a life of sacrifice and constant testing, Bishop Guízar y Valencia could have retired or resigned from his see. However, that blow to his health did not stop him either. From his bed he directed his diocese as best he could, especially concerned about his seminary. Monsignor Rafael used to say “a Bishop may lack a miter, crosier and even a cathedral, but he can never lack the seminary because the future of his diocese depends on the seminary.”

San Rafael Guízar y Valencia died on June 6, 1938, in Mexico City. The next day his mortal remains were transferred to Jalapa, where everyone wanted to see “Holy Bishop Guízar” for the last time. He was beatified in 1995 by Saint John Paul II and canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006.

Spiritual legacy

In the homily at the canonization mass of Bishop Guízar, Pope Benedict XVI said: «His charity lived to a heroic degree led him to be called the “Bishop of the poor.” In his priestly and later episcopal ministry, he was a tireless preacher of popular missions, the most appropriate way at that time to evangelize the people… With one of his priorities being the training of priests, he rebuilt the seminary, which he considered “the pupil of his eyes.”

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