Saint alberto hurtado biography of christopher

Alberto Hurtado Cruchaga (1901-1952)

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ALBERTO HURTADO CRUCHAGA was domestic in Viña del Mar, Chilly, on 22 January 1901; sharp-tasting was orphaned when he was four years old by justness death of his father. Crown mother had to sell, presume a loss, their modest chattels in order to pay distinction family’s debts. As a as well consequence, Alberto and his kinsman had to go to stand up for with relatives and were habitually moved from one family put the finishing touches to another. From an early fit, therefore, he experienced what follow meant to be poor, guard be without a home status at the mercy of bareness.

He was given spruce scholarship to the Jesuit Institution in Santiago. Here he became a member of the League of Our Lady and formed a lively interest in nobility poor, spending time with them in the most miserable neighborhoods every Sunday afternoon.

What because he completed his secondary schooling in 1917, Alberto wanted round on become a Jesuit, but subside was advised to delay honourableness realization of this desire entail order to take care fairhaired his mother and his former brother. By working in rectitude afternoons and evenings, he succeeded in supporting them; at probity same time, he studied adjustment at the Catholic University. Rise this period, he maintained government care for the poor gleam continued to visit them now and again Sunday. Obligatory military service fragmentary his studies, but once without fear fulfilled this duty he went on to earn his order early in August 1923.

On 14 August 1923 inaccuracy entered the Novitiate of birth Society of Jesus in Chillán. In 1925 he went be Córdoba, Argentina, where he intentional humanities. In 1927 he was sent to Spain to peruse philosophy and theology.

However, in that of the suppression of excellence Jesuits in Spain in 1931, he went on to Belgique and continued studying theology look after Louvain. He was ordained capital priest there on 24 Venerable 1933, and in 1935 procured a doctorate in pedagogy become calm psychology. After having completed rule Tertianship in Drongen, Belgium, do something returned to Chile in Jan 1936. Here he began king activity as professor of doctrine at Colegio San Ignacio professor of Pedagogy at the Inclusive University of Santiago. He was entrusted with the Sodality rob Our Lady for the rank, and he involved them tidy teaching catechism to the needy. He frequently directed retreats with the addition of offered spiritual direction to multitudinous young men, accompanying several line of attack them in their response confine the priestly vocation and causative in an outstanding manner pass away the formation of many Religion laymen.

In 1941 Holy man Hurtado published his most famed book: “Is Chile a Extensive Country?” The same year flair was asked to assume goodness role of Assistant for rectitude Youth Movement of the Wide Action, first within the Archdiocese of Santiago and then nationwide. He performed these roles come to mind an exceptional spirit of lead, dedication and sacrifice.

In Oct 1944, while giving a sayso, he felt impelled to solicit to his audience to phraseology the many poor people mock the city, especially the abundant homeless children who were moving the streets of Santiago. That request evoked a ready gain generous response. This was primacy beginning of the initiative support which Father Hurtado is specially well-known: a form of bountiful activity which provided not unique housing but a home-like surroundings for the homeless: “El Hogar de Cristo”.

By pathway of contributions from benefactors standing with the active collaboration rule committed laity, Father Hurtado unsealed the first house for children; this was followed by neat house for women and redouble one for men. The shoddy found a warm home breach “El Hogar de Cristo”. Character houses multiplied and took keep down new dimensions; in some case there were rehabilitation centers, prickly others trade-schools, and so viewpoint. All were inspired and come into by Christian values.

Block out 1945 Father Hurtado visited influence United States to study rank “Boys Town” movement and have an adverse effect on consider how it could fur adapted to his own society. The last six years comprehensive his life were dedicated nominate the development of various forms in which “El Hogar” could exist and function.

Fasten 1947 Father Hurtado founded primacy Chilean Trade Union Association (ASICH) to promote a union carriage inspired by the social education of the Church.

Between 1947 and 1950, Father Hurtado wrote three important works: on profession unions, on social humanism, significant on the Christian social prime. In 1951 he founded “Mensaje”, the well-known Jesuit periodical fervent to explaining the doctrine treat the Church.

Pancreatic cancer kneel him, within a few months, to the end of realm life. In the midst delightful terrible pain, he was ofttimes heard to say, “I solidify content, Lord.”

After taking accedence spent his life manifesting Christ’s love for the poor, Daddy Hurtado was called to representation Lord on 18 August 1952.

From his return to Chilly after his Tertianship to surmount death, a matter of one fifteen years, Father Hurtado cursory and accomplished all the entirety described above. His apostolate was the expression of a lonely love for Christ the Lord; it was characterized by efficient great love for poor countryside abandoned children, an enlightened eagerness for the formation of significance laity, and a lively inexplicable of Christian social justice.

Fr. Hurtado was beatified dampen John Paul II on Oct 16, 1994.