On August 5, Pope Francis received in audience Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, to authorize the promulgation of the decree on the heroic virtues of the Servant of God, John Sanchez Hernandezdiocesan worker priest and founder of the Secular Institute Secular Servants of Jesus Christ Priest; declaring it like this venerable.
The venerable Servant of God Juan Sánchez Hernández was born in Villanueva del Campillo (Ávila) on November 9, 1902; within a humble family of strong religious convictions, as highlighted by the Secular Institute Secular Servants of Jesus Christ Priest.
His father had died two months before his birth, so the family moved to Pascualcobo (Ávila), his mother’s town of origin. Educated in the faith by his mother from a very young age, he was attracted to the priesthood.
Close relationship with Salamanca
In 1913 he entered as an external student at the Salamanca Seminary, not being able to cope with the economic expenses that the boarding school entailed. In 1922, at the beginning of the third course of Theology, he became a student at the Major Seminary, entrusted to the Brotherhood of Priests Diocesan Workers. Upon meeting them, he felt called to join that priestly fraternity, and in 1924 he entered the Probation House of Diocesan Workers in Tortosa (Tarragona) as an applicant, where he completed his theological studies.
He was ordained a priest on July 26, 1925, in Burgos, celebrating his first mass in Salamanca. From that moment, he will be assigned to exercise various ministries, we especially highlight his work as spiritual director at the San Carlos Borromeo College in Salamanca and at the Spanish College in Rome; he was a member of the General Council of the Brotherhood of Priests Diocesan Workers and tirelessly exercised his pastoral work as an Apostle of the Priesthood.
As a result of these desires for priestly holiness and to help the priesthood in its ministry, the idea of founding a secular feminine Institute with an apostolic-priestly spirit arose in the 1950s. She has years of experience dealing with seminarians and priests, and echoes the Church’s concerns for her pastors.
Secular Servants, since 1954
In 1954 the Secular Servants of Jesus Christ the Priest began their journey, approved at the diocesan level in 1965, and receiving pontifical approval in 1985. Founder and father, he encouraged the life of the young Institute from the beginning, promoting at the same time its independence and responsibility. .
Eager to help his brother priests, he created the ARS Bookstores and an association in favor of the priest’s relatives. He died in Madrid on July 18, 1975 with a reputation for sainthood. His canonization process was instructed in Madrid between 2000 and 2002. In 2006 the Positio was delivered to the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints.
The venerable Servant of God Juan Sánchez Hernández is described by witnesses as a “humble and exemplary” priest who lived the virtues to a heroic degree, and did so with balance, promptness and joy. In the writings of the venerable one there is a deep spirituality, love for Jesus Christ the Priest and the Eucharist, “which is reflected again and again in his desire for progressive perfection and in his desire to achieve holiness.” The approval of a miracle worked through his intercession will be the last step necessary for his Beatification.
Source and photo: Diocese of Salamanca