Miguel Febres Cordero
Saint Miguel Febres Cordero was an Ecuadorian Roman Catholic religious brother and a professed member of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. He is remembered for his dedication to education and evangelization in Ecuador and Spain, and for his prolific writings on educational methods, literature, and linguistics.
- Feast Day
- 21
- Century
- 20th century
- Country Or Region
- Ecuador
Key Facts
- ›Born Francisco Luis Febres-Cordero y Muñoz on November 7, 1854, in Ecuador.
- ›Became a member of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, taking the name Miguel.
- ›Served as a school teacher in Quito for over three decades, publishing textbooks adopted by the government.
- ›Elected to educational academies in Ecuador, Spain, France, and Venezuela.
- ›Beatified by Pope Paul VI on October 30, 1977, and canonized by Pope John Paul II on October 21, 1984.
- ›His tomb in Quito is a pilgrimage site, and he is considered a national hero in Ecuador.
Francisco Luis Febres-Cordero y Muñoz, Brother Miguel
About Miguel Febres Cordero
Saint Miguel Febres Cordero, born Francisco Luis Febres-Cordero y Muñoz on November 7, 1854, in Ecuador, was an Ecuadorian Roman Catholic religious brother and a member of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, commonly known as the La Salle Brothers. He is revered for his lifelong dedication to education and evangelization, leaving a significant mark on both his native land and the religious order to which he belonged.
Life and Ministry
From a young age, Febres-Cordero displayed a deep faith and an inclination towards learning. Despite early physical infirmities, he later experienced miraculous recoveries attributed to divine intervention. His formal education began at a school run by the Brothers of the Christian Schools, where he eventually became the first Ecuadorian member of the order on March 24, 1868, taking the religious name Miguel. He served as a teacher in Quito for over three decades, earning recognition for his gentle and dedicated approach.
His commitment to education extended to the creation of his own textbooks, including one for teaching Spanish, which were so well-received that the government adopted and circulated them to all schools. He also delved into research and writing on literature and linguistics, which led to his membership in prestigious academies, including the Ecuadorian Academy of Letters and academies in Spain, France, and Venezuela. He further contributed to his order by serving as novice director from 1901 to 1904 and undertaking translation work in Belgium.
Sainthood
The process for his canonization began with local processes in Barcelona and Quito. He was proclaimed Venerable on March 16, 1970, by Pope Paul VI, who recognized his heroic virtue. The miracle required for his beatification involved the healing of Sister Clementina Flores Cordero in 1933, attributed to prayers to Brother Miguel. Pope Paul VI beatified him on October 30, 1977.
The second miracle necessary for canonization was the reported curing of Beatriz Gómez de Núñez from myasthenia gravis during Cordero's beatification ceremony. Pope John Paul II approved this miracle, and Miguel Febres Cordero was canonized on October 21, 1984, becoming the first male Ecuadorian saint. His liturgical feast is celebrated annually on February 9, the date of his death in 1910 from pneumonia in Barcelona, Spain. His incorrupt remains were transferred to Quito in 1937, where his tomb has become a significant site of pilgrimage, solidifying his status as a national hero.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Saint Miguel Febres Cordero born?
Saint Miguel Febres Cordero was born on November 7, 1854, as Francisco Luis Febres-Cordero y Muñoz in Ecuador.
What was his religious affiliation?
He was a professed member of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, also known as the La Salle Brothers. He assumed the name Miguel upon his admittance into the order.
What were his major contributions?
He was a dedicated educator and evangelizer in Ecuador and Spain, and a prolific writer of textbooks, odes, and works on literature and linguistics. Some of his textbooks were adopted by the Ecuadorian government.
When was he canonized and by whom?
He was beatified by Pope Paul VI on October 30, 1977, and canonized by Pope John Paul II on October 21, 1984.
Where is he buried and is his tomb a significant site?
He died in Spain and was initially buried there. His remains were later transferred to Quito, Ecuador, where his tomb has become a popular pilgrimage site.
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