Inocencio of Mary Immaculate
Inocencio of Mary Immaculate, born Manuel Canoura Arnau, was a Catholic priest and member of the Passionists. He is remembered as one of the Martyrs of Turon, executed during the Asturias revolt, and was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1999.
- Feast Day
- October 9
- Century
- 20th century
- Country Or Region
- Spain
Key Facts
- ›He was born on March 10, 1887, in Lugo, Galicia, Spain.
- ›He joined the Passionist seminary at age 14 and was ordained a priest in 1920.
- ›He was imprisoned by strikers at the Lasallian school in Turón.
- ›He was executed by firing squad on October 9, 1934, alongside eight Brothers.
- ›He is considered one of the Martyrs of the Spanish CIVIL War, despite his death preceding the war.
- ›He was canonized by Pope John Paul II on November 21, 1999.
Manuel Canoura Arnau
About Inocencio of Mary Immaculate
Inocencio of Mary Immaculate, born Manuel Canoura Arnau on March 10, 1887, was a Catholic priest and a member of the Passionist Congregation. He is primarily known for his martyrdom during the Asturias revolt in Spain. His life and death are significant within the context of religious persecution in early 20th-century Spain.
Life and Ministry
Born near the Cantabrian coast in Galicia, Spain, Manuel Canoura Arnau joined the Passionist seminary at the age of 14. He continued his studies in philosophy and theology with the Passionist Congregation. He received the sub-diaconate in 1910, the diaconate in 1912, and was ordained a priest in 1920. As a priest, he engaged in preaching missions and teaching in various schools. While serving in Mieres, he was asked by the Brothers of the Christian Schools (De La Salle) to hear confessions for children preparing for their First Communion.
Martyrdom
In October 1934, during the Asturias revolt, a group of strikers forced their way into the Lasallian school in Turón, where Father Inocencio was ministering. He and the eight Brothers present were imprisoned. They were condemned to death by a Republican committee and executed by a firing squad in the early hours of October 9, 1934. Their bodies were buried in a common grave. The Catholic Church regards Inocencio as one of the Martyrs of the Spanish Civil War, even though his death predated the official outbreak of the war, due to the shared anti-clerical violence of the period.
Canonization
Inocencio and his eight fellow martyrs, collectively known as the Martyrs of Turon, were declared venerable in 1989. They were subsequently beatified on April 19, 1990, and finally canonized on November 21, 1999, by Pope John Paul II.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Inocencio of Mary Immaculate?
Inocencio of Mary Immaculate, born Manuel Canoura Arnau, was a Catholic priest and a member of the Passionist Congregation. He is recognized for his martyrdom during the Asturias revolt.
When and where was Inocencio of Mary Immaculate born?
He was born on March 10, 1887, in Santa Cilla do Valadouro, near the Cantabrian coast in the province of Lugo, Galicia, Spain.
What led to his death?
Father Inocencio was exercising his priestly ministry at the Lasallian school in Turón when a group of strikers forced their way in on October 5, 1934. He was imprisoned with eight Brothers and subsequently condemned to death and executed by firing squad on October 9, 1934.
Why is he considered a martyr of the Spanish Civil War?
Although his death occurred in 1934, two years before the official outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, his martyrdom is seen as part of the same violence and anti-clerical sentiment prevalent in Spain during that period. He is known as one of the Martyrs of Turon.
When was he canonized?
Inocencio and his eight fellow martyrs were declared venerable in 1989, beatified in 1990, and finally canonized on November 21, 1999, by Pope John Paul II.
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