José Maria de Yermo y Parres

José María de Yermo y Parres

José María de Yermo y Parres (1851–1904) was a Mexican Roman Catholic priest and a significant figure in the establishment of religious orders dedicated to charitable works. He is primarily remembered as the founder of the Servants of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and of the Poor, an order devoted to serving the spiritual and material needs of the poor and abandoned.

Life and Ministry

Born on November 10, 1851, to Manuel de Yermo y Soviñas and María Josefa Parres, José María was raised with strong religious values instilled by his paternal aunt and grandmother. He received his education from private teachers and attended private schools, even earning a medal of honor from Maximilian I of Mexico for his academic distinctions in 1864. He forged a lifelong friendship with the poet Juan de Dios Peza in 1863.

In 1867, Yermo y Parres entered the Congregation of the Mission, making his vows in Toluca on November 10, 1868. He was sent to Paris for studies but returned in 1870 after experiencing a vocational crisis, leading him to depart the order. Guided by his friend, Father Miguel Arizmendi, and with the approval of his uncle, José Maria Diez de Sollano y Dávalos, he pursued studies for the priesthood, eventually being ordained on August 24, 1879. Despite an initial assignment to two small churches that he perceived as a setback, he discerned God's will and accepted the post.

A pivotal moment in his life occurred when he witnessed the remains of two abandoned newborns being eaten by pigs. This deeply disturbing sight motivated him to dedicate himself to helping the abandoned. On December 13, 1885, he opened "The Shelter of the Sacred Heart," which laid the groundwork for his new religious order, the Servants of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and of the Poor, established at the summit of El Calvario.

Major Contributions and Legacy

Through his order, Yermo y Parres founded numerous hospitals and orphanages, alongside shelters for the abused. He also engaged in collaborative efforts with the Tarahumara people towards the end of his life. His conviction that "Let us speak about saints to forge saints" underscored his mission to inspire holiness through example and service.

He died on September 20, 1904, in Puebla de los Angeles from a stomach ulcer. His order continues its work, operating in countries such as the United States of America and Nicaragua.

Sainthood

The process for his canonization began with an informative process in Puebla de Los Angeles in 1949, which resumed in 1976. He was declared a Servant of God in 1981 and Venerable by Pope John Paul II in 1989 after a declaration of heroic virtue. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II in Mexico City on May 6, 1990. The miracle required for his canonization was approved, and Pope John Paul II officially canonized him on May 21, 2000, in Saint Peter's Square.