St. José Manyanet y Vives

Born January 7, 1833 in Catalonia, Spain; diedDecember 17, 1901 in Spain; canonized May 16, 2004 by Pope John Paul II.At the age of five, José’s mother dedicated him to the Virgin Mary, and he entered the seminary in as a youth. Was ordained in 1859 and served as the secretary of the bishop of Urgell, the seminary librarian, the chancery administrator before responding to the call to found two religious congregations.He founded the Congregation of the Sons of the Holy Family in 1864 and the Missionary Daughters of the Holy Family of Nazareth in 10 years later, both dedicated to the education and protection of the Christian family, and education and parish ministry.He also founded schools and centers, encouraged devotion to the Holy Family, wrote many books on family issues, and spiritual guidance. Also in the cultural ambit he worked for the construction of the Servant of God Antonio Gaudí’s masterpiece Temple of the Holy Family in Barcelona, Spain.He suffered from physical illnesses all his life, and in particular two open wounds in his sides for his last 16 years.