SAINT OF THE DAY: 18 JANUARY, 2014

Saint Jaime Hilario
Martyr
(1898-1937)

St. Jaime Hilario, was a Spanish member of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools.

He was born Manuel Barbal Cosan on January 2, 1898 in Enviny, a small town in the foothills of the Pyrenees in Catalonia (in northern Spain).

Known for his serious nature, he was only 12 years old when, with the blessing of his devout and hardworking parents, he entered the minor seminary of the diocese of La Seu de Urgel.

He soon developed an ear infection and he was forced to abandon his studies for the priesthood.

In 1917, convinced that God was calling him, he joined the noviciate of the La Salle Brothers in Irún.

He took the names Jaime Hilario. After sixteen years in various teaching assignments, his increasing deafness forced him to abandon teaching.

He moved to Cambrils, near Tarragona and worked in the garden of the Order’s training house there.

On the outbreak of the Spanish civil war on July 18, 1936 he took refuge in nearby Mollerosa on his way to visit his family.

But he was arrested as a religious and jailed.

In December he was transferred to Tarragona for trial. He was held on board a prison ship with several other brothers.

On January 15, 1937 he was given a summary trial.

Though he could have been freed by claiming to be only a gardener, he insisted on his identity as a religious.

He was condemned to death on no grounds beyond his religious status.

He was shot in a wood known as the Mount of Olives next to Tarragona cemetery on January 18, 1937.

His last words to his executioners were “My friends, to die for Christ is to reign.”

When two volleys failed to meet their mark, the soldiers dropped their rifles and fled in panic.

The commander, shouting a furious oath, fired five shots to the temple and the victim fell at his feet.

He was the first Christian Brothers killed in Catalonia during the Spanish civil war.

He was beatified on April 29, 1990 and canonized on November 21, 1999 by Pope John Paul II.

READING OF THE DAY: 18 JANUARY, 2014

“Jesus went out along the sea.

All the crowd came to him and he taught them.

As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post.

He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him.

While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him.

Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

Jesus heard this and said to them (that), “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” -Mark 2:13-17.