Bienheureux François de
Posadas
Prêtre
dominicain (+ 1713)
Né à Cordoue, il consacra sa vie à la prédication, parcourant toute l'Espagne pour annoncer le Christ. Il était d'une grande humilité et d'un esprit de pénitence et de charité remarquable.
À Cordoue en Andalousie, l'an 1713, le bienheureux François de Posadas, prêtre
de l'Ordre des Prêcheurs. D'un esprit de pénitence, d'humilité, de charité
remarquable, il annonça le Christ dans cette région pendant quarante ans.
Martyrologe romain
SOURCE : https://nominis.cef.fr/contenus/saint/10436/Bienheureux-Fran%C3%A7ois-de-Posadas.html
FRANCISCO DE POSADAS
Prêtre dominicain, Bienheureux
1644-1713
Francisco de Posadas est
né à Cordoue le 25 septembre 1644, de parents nobles, mais pauvres, qui
l'élevèrent chrétiennement. Il montra de bonne heure un grand amour pour Dieu
et une tendre dévotion envers la sainte Vierge, en l'honneur de laquelle
il récitait tous les jours le rosaire, avec d'autres enfants de son âge qu'il
avait formés à cette pratique. Sa pieuse mère, qui l'avait placé, dès l'instant
de sa naissance, sous la protection de Marie, et qui désirait beaucoup le voir
entrer un jour dans l'ordre de Saint-Dominique, n'eut pas plutôt éduqué François
sur ce point, qu'elle le trouva tout disposé à s'y conformer. Dès lors il se
regarda, quoique tout jeune encore, comme déjà consacré à Dieu; il ne
partageait ni les jeux ni les amusements de ses camarades, mais il donnait à la
prière et à la méditation presque tout le temps qui n'était point employé à
l'étude, fréquentait les églises avec la plus grande dévotion, et s'efforçait
par toute sa conduite de devenir un digne membre de l'ordre de Saint-Dominique.
Sa mère, étant devenue veuve se remaria à un homme qui le força d'apprendre un
métier, et le confia à un maître brutal qui tous les jours l'accablait de
coups, malgré, son assiduité au travail. François, à force de patience et de
douceur, vint à bout de gagner son affection au point qu'il en obtint des
secours pour achever ses études, interrompues par son apprentissage. Sa mère
ayant perdu son second, mari, il la soigna en bon fils : il attribuait
plus tard au respect et aux égards qu'il avait eus pour elle les grâces, dont
Dieu le comblait. Il put enfin entrer chez les Dominicains l'an 1663, et après
avoir fait son noviciat dans le couvent de la Scala Coeli, près de
Cordoue, il y prononça ses vœux. Dans les commencements, la communauté ne sut
pas l'apprécier, et il fut en butte à la persécution et à la calomnie qu'il
supporta sans se plaindre ; mais on finit par lui rendre justice, et il
fut ordonné prêtre à Saint-Lucas.
Employé au ministère de
la prédication, ses sermons opérèrent des effets immenses, et la foule était si
grande que les églises se trouvant trop petites pour la contenir, il était
souvent obligé de prêcher sur les places publiques. La force et la beauté de
ses discours, le charme de sa parole, ses larmes, son extérieur, tout
concourait à toucher et à convertir les cœurs : on le voyait quelquefois,
le visage rayonnant comme on représente les séraphins. Il menait, dans ses
missions, la vie la plus mortifiée, faisant tous ses voyages à pied, souvent
sans chaussures, ne portant point de provisions et n'ayant pour lit qu'un
sac de paille et souvent même la terre nue : ses succès n'étaient pas
moins grands au confessionnal qu'en chaire, et l'onction de ses paroles y était
presque irrésistible et son zèle, aussi éclairé qu'il était ardent, faisaient
marcher à grands pas, dans les voies de la perfection, les âmes qu'il
conduisait, et il s'appliquait surtout à les éloigner des dangers du monde et,
en particulier, des festivités profanes : son crédit sur les habitants de
Cordoue fut assez grand pour obtenir la destruction du théâtre de cette ville,
tant il le rebutait.
Rien ne l'effrayait, ni
les fatigues, ni les dangers, ni les obstacle, les austérités et ses jeûnes.
Son humilité, son amour pour les pauvres le faisaient regarder comme un saint
dans les provinces méridionales de l'Espagne. François de Posadas, après avoir
refusé un évêché en Sardaigne et celui de Cadix, après une vie passée dans les
travaux des missions, mourut presque subitement, lorsqu'il venait de célébrer
la messe, le 20 septembre 1713. Il a publié plusieurs ouvrages.
SOURCE : http://nouvl.evangelisation.free.fr/francisco_de_posadas.htm
Bienheureux Francisco de
Posadas
Le 20 septembre 2022
PAUVRE, MAIS RICHE DU
CHRIST
« Ce serait une
absurdité de voir une mitre sur la tête de quelqu’un qui a grandi parmi les
paniers de fruits », affirme Francisco de Posadas (1644-1713), après avoir
refusé plusieurs sièges épiscopaux, dont celui de Cordoue. Né dans une pauvre
famille, il réussit à étudier grâce à des prêtres amis, mais lorsqu’il demande
à entrer chez les dominicains de Cordoue, ses origines sociales le font
refuser. Sans se décourager, il frappe à la porte d’un autre couvent qui le
reçoit, la Scala Coeli, « l’échelle du ciel », tout un
programme ! Émule de saint Vincent Ferrier, il devient un grand
prédicateur connu dans toute l’Espagne. Sa compassion pour les pauvres, les
malades et les prisonniers le dépouille de tous ses biens. Simple religieux
jusqu’à sa mort, il est enfin admis dans le couvent Saint-Paul qui l’avait
écarté, puisqu’il y est enterré.
Seigneur Jésus, doux et
humble de cœur, tu as gratifié le bienheureux Francisco de Posadas de ta
présence pour qu’il te suive sur le chemin de l’humilité.
Temps de silence
Qu’à sa prière nous
menions une vie humble et pauvre à l’image du Christ.
Ce mois-ci, à l’écoute de
Jean Chrysostome
Tu veux voir ton
autel ? Cet autel est constitué par les propres membres du Christ. Cet
autel-là, partout il t’est possible de le contempler, dans les rues et sur les
places ; et à toute heure tu peux y célébrer ta liturgie.
SOURCE : https://francais.magnificat.net/magnificat_content/bienheureux-francisco-de-posadas/
Blessed
Francisco Martín Fernández de Posadas
Profile
Decided young to be
a priest,
and at age 19 entered the Dominican novitiate.
Noted preacher.
Home missioner in western Spain.
Popular confessor.
Known for his spiritual gifts, including reports of the ability to levitate. Wrote several
works, including a biography of Saint Dominic
de Guzman.
Born
25
November 1644 at Cordova, Spain
20
September 1713 at Cordova, Spain of
natural causes
20
September 1818 by Pope Pius
VII
Loving God, you endowed
Blessed Francis with the sweetness of heavenly charity and made him a renowned
preacher of your word. With the help of his prayers may we ever live in your
love. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy
Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. – General Calendar of the Order of
Preachers
Additional
Information
Saints
and Saintly Dominicans, by Blessed Hyacinthe-Marie
Cormier, O.P.
books
Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
other
sites in english
sitios
en español
Martirologio Romano, 2001 edición
fonti
in italiano
nettsteder
i norsk
MLA
Citation
“Blessed Francisco Martín
Fernández de Posadas“. CatholicSaints.Info. 7 May 2023. Web. 19 September
2023. <https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-francisco-martin-fernandez-de-posadas/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-francisco-martin-fernandez-de-posadas/
Saints
and Saintly Dominicans – 20 September
Blessed Francis
Possadas, Confessor, O.P.
Blessed Francis,
in his early years, delighted to give to the poor the
food he received, and to gather together the children of his own age to recite
the Rosary in procession. He endeavored to instill piety into persons of the
world, and even into his own parents, reasoning in a manner beyond his years.
His step-father treated him very badly for a long while, and forced him to
abandon his studies and learn a trade instead; but the harsh master to whom he
was apprenticed was overcome by his meekness and furnished him with the means
to continue his studies. When he became a religious his brethren misunderstood
him for a considerable time; but his merits were finally recognized and he was
ordered to prepare for the priesthood. In the exercise of the sacred ministry
he acquired such influence over the people that at Cordova, with the assent of
the magistrates, he succeeded in abolishing all the theatres in the town. It
might be said that the zeal and eloquence of Saint Vincent Ferrer revived in
him. In all his trials, prayer was his stay and consolation. At Holy Mass, in
particular, his devotion was so extraordinary that a bright ray was observed to
issue from his mouth and light up the missal; at the Elevation his whole body
trembled. He died whilst
the Credo was being sung to him for the third time. (1731)
Prayer
O Lord, make me to know
my end; and what is the number of my days that I may know what is wanting to
me. (Psalm 38:5)
Practice
When you pass the
theatres ask God’s forgiveness for all the sins committed therein.
– taken from the
book Saints
and Saintly Dominicans, by Blessed Hyacinthe-Marie
Cormier, O.P.
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/saints-and-saintly-dominicans-20-september/
Blessed Francis de
Posadas – September 20th
This Spanish boy’s parents were vegetable merchants and they were happy at the
thought that their son wanted to become a priest. But his father died and when
his mother married again, his stepfather would not let him go ahead with his
studies. He sent Francis to work, and the boy’s employer at first was very mean
to him. Poor Francis! All his hopes seemed ruined now. Yet he worked hard and
patiently, even when his master stormed at him. At last, the master was won by
his goodness, and even helped Francis to go ahead with his studies whenever he
had free time.
When he was nineteen, Francis finally saw his dream come true: he entered the
Dominican order. Yet, here, too, he had to suffer, because at first, the others
did not understand him and some of them made fun of him. But he did not quit.
He stayed right there and became a priest.
After he was ordained, Francis began his preaching missions, which were to last
for forty years, until his death. He traveled on foot all over the southwest
part of Spain and made a great impression on sinners by his words and his
penances. People began to live such better lives that many bad theaters had to
close down because they had no business.
Blessed Francis tried to avoid all praise and admiration. He would not accept
any high positions and turned down chances to become a bishop. He also tried to
hide the miracles God worked for him.
When we feel like quitting, we must not give in. Instead, let us fight against
every obstacle until we are gloriously successful.
SOURCE : https://thesaintsstories.blogspot.com/2008/07/blessed-francis-de-posadas.html
SEPTEMBER 20, 2014
Blessed Francis Posadas
Few Dominicans have had
more difficulty getting into the Order than Blessed Francis de Posadas, and he
was one of the glories of the convent of the Scala Coeli, in Cordova. It is
embarrassing for us to read that the reason for his exclusion was plain and
simple snobbery on the part of the superiors of the convent of St. Paul, in
Cordova.
Francis was born of a
poor young couple who were war refugees, and who had been shunted from place to
place until, when Francis was very small, his father’s health failed, and he
died in Cordova. The young widow tried several types of work, and finally she
was reduced to selling eggs and vegetables at a street stand. She tried to
educate her child, for she knew he was very talented, but, without money, it simply
was not possible to send him to school. She encourage him to go to the
Dominican Church of St. Paul, and he served Mass there every morning from the
time he was six or seven years old.
While he was still a very
tiny child, he used to gather the other children together for rosary
processions or other devotions. The smile of God seemed to rest upon him. For
all his poverty, he was a very happy and attractive child, like by everyone;
and he was a natural leader among his fellows. Twice during his childhood, he
was miracuously saved from death. This fact and his undoubted piety, should
have seemed sufficient reason for admitting him into a religious order.
However, by the time Francis was old enough, there were two reasons to make his
entry difficult: his mother had remarried, and the step-father would not permit
him to enter. The Dominicans, moreover, would not have him. They said that they
did not want the son of a street peddler.
Francis had friends in
the Order, but the prior of the house he wished to enter took a violent dislike
to him. It was several years before the young man could overcome the resistance
of this man, who, having some influence with the provincial, was stubbornly
determined that Francis should not be allowed to enter. Even when the fathers
in the convent of Scala offered to take the boy and train him in Latin- so that
he could qualify for clerical studies-the vindictive dislike of the prior
followed him and almost prevented his acceptance.
Francis was finally
accepted, made his novitiate, and gradually overcame all dislike and distrust
by his charming manner and his unquestioned talents as student and preacher.
After his ordination, he was sent out to preach, and he earned the reputation
of being a second St, Vincent Ferrer. His talents as a preacher were rivaled
only by his gifts as a confessor. He not only could read hearts and discover
sins that had been willfully concealed, but sometimes he was called to one
place or another by an interior spirit and shown someone badly in need of the
sacraments.
Francis hated the thought
of holding authority in the Order. When appointed prior of one of the convents,
he remarked that he would much sooner be sentenced to the galleys. He twice
refused a bishopric, and he skillfully eluded court honors.
Several remarkable
conversions are credited to Francis Posadas. His last tears were a series of
miracles wrought in the souls of his penitents. People followed him about to
hear him preach, regarding him as a saint and miracle worker. One of his most
noted converts was a woman more than one hundred years old- a Moor- with no
intention of deserting Mohammedanism.
Francis of Posadas was
the author of a number of books which he wrote to assist him in his apostolate.
One was a life of St. Dominic. and several were biographies of other saintly
people.
After a life filled with
miracles, Francis died in 1713. Being forewarned of his death, he made private
preparations, but to the last minute he was busy in the confessional before
dying suddenly. By the time of his death, not only the Dominicans of Cordova,
but the people of all Spain were happy to have him as a fellow countryman. He
was beatified a century after his death, in 1818.
Born: Cordona in
Spain in 1644
Died: In 1713 of
natural causes
Beatified: He was
declared Blessed by Pius VII in 1818
SOURCE : https://orderofpreachersindependent.org/2014/09/20/blessed-francis-posadas/
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
September
20: Blessed Francis de Posadas, C., O.P., III Class
Today, in the 1962 Dominican Rite Calendar, we celebrate the feast of Blessed Francis Possadas, confessor of the Order of Preachers. In the 1962 Breviarium sacri ordinis praedicatorum calendar, his feast is merely a commemoration. By the time the 1967 English translation was published by the Irish Dominican Province, the Order had elevated his feast to III Class. So today, the ordinary office is prayed according to the rubrics.
From “Short Lives of the Dominican Saints” (London, Kegan
Paul, Trench, and Trübner & Co., Ltd., 1901):
Blessed Francis Possadas was born about A.D. 1643, at Cordova in Spain, of a family which had fallen from its ancient position of nobility into a state of poverty. Whilst still an infant, the name of Mary was found miraculously imprinted over his heart, and it was the first that his baby lips were heard to utter. From his earliest years he gave evidence of the tenderest piety. He daily recited the Rosary and practiced other exercises of devotion whilst still a child. His mother, who was a very pious woman, seeing his great attraction to religion, wished him to enter the Order of Saint Dominic, and had him educated with that view. But after his father’s death she married again, and Francis was cruelly treated by his step-father, who insisted on his giving up his studies and being put to learn some useful trade. This was accordingly done; but the pious youth never abandoned his holy purpose, and by his unfailing obedience and sweetness of temper so won his master’s favor as to obtain his leave to continue his studies. He was at last allowed to enter the noviciate in the Dominican Convent of Scala Coeli; but as a further trial of his constancy, God permitted that his true worth and character should not be at first appreciated by his Brethren and Superiors. He was treated with contempt and harshness, all which he endured with unalterable patience, until at length justice was done him, and the Community, recognizing his sanctity and full of admiration at the wonderful patience with which he had borne their unkindness, unanimously consented to his being admitted to the priesthood.
Blessed Francis led a
life of prayer and penance, joined to marvelous activity in laboring for the
salvation of souls. He set before himself as his model for imitation the
glorious Saint Vincent Ferrer, whom he chose as his special patron. The
success which attended his preaching scarcely less wonderful than that which
resulted from the apostolic ministry of St. Vincent. His example, even
more than his inflamed discourses, produced so extraordinary an effect on the
hearts of his hearers that he obtained almost boundless influence over them.
In his native city of Cordoba, he set himself, and that which marvelous
success, to the difficult task for reforming the public morals, which were in a
state of lamentable corruption. By the power of his preaching, the
citizens were at length induced to close all the theaters and places of public
amusement, which had formerly been scenes of immorality and disorder.
His chief delight was to
minister to the poor, the sick, and the imprisoned, providing for their bodily
as well as for their spiritual needs. Very often he was known to continue
from sunrise to sunset instructing the poor and ignorant in the mysteries of
the faith. He refused all positions of authority in the Order, and could
not be induced to accept two bishoprics which were offered to him at different
times. So profound was his humility, that he not only exercised the
lowliest offices in the House, but even rejoiced in being despised,
calumniated, and insulted. He had to undergo terrible conflicts with the
devil, from all of which he came forth victorious. He was endowed with
the gifts of prophecy, discernment of spirits, and other supernatural favors.
At length, having
exercised the duties of a confessor and preacher for about forty years, he
calmly slept in the Lord on the 20th of September, A.D. 1713. His
heroic virtues having been confirmed, by miracles, he was beatified by Pius
VII.
Prayer
O God, you made your
confessor, the blessed Francis, who was filled with the sweetness of heavenly
charity, and outstanding preacher of your word; grant, at his intercession,
that enkindled by the fire of your love we may always live in your
friendship. Throu https://breviariumsop.blogspot.com/2016/09/september-20-blessed-francis-de-posadas.html
gh our Lord…
SOURCE : https://breviariumsop.blogspot.com/2016/09/september-20-blessed-francis-de-posadas.html
Blessed
Francis de Posadas, Model of Rosarians, by Father Thomas Austin Dyson
This humble priest, and
servant of God has left us the memory of a sweet example of a Christ-like life.
Having passed through childhood holily, he gave himself to God in the
springtime of youth. A model religious, zealous priest, fervent apostle, a wise
and favorite director of souls, he was, above all things, a devoted servant of
Mary and Dominic; always and everywhere preaching the Rosary, that beautiful
devotion which Mary’s hands and Dominic’s lips gave to the Christian world.
He lived in the 17th
century, and was one of those chosen souls whose saintly lives saved the world
from utter corruption in an age when unbelief, infidelity, and immorality
ravaged the fold of Christ. His father, Stephen Martin Posada, and his mother,
Mary Fernandez, although poor, both belonged to ancient families. During the
war under Philip the 4th, they were forced to flee from Lama de Arcos in
Castille, their native town; and, wandering from place to place in Andalusia,
went to Cordova, where, with what remained of their earthly possessions, they
opened a linen and silk store; but this having failed, and all their little
fortune spent, they sold fruits and beans, until at last his mother was forced
to cry eggs in the streets.
This pious couple had
several children, but God had taken them to himself. The afflicted and
childless woman, finding that she was again about to become a mother, offered
her unborn babe to the Blessed Virgin Mary, promising her that if it was a boy
and lived, she would persuade him to enter the Order of Saint Dominic, and that
when he was ordained priest he should say his first Mass at the altar of the
Holy Fountain, a favorite shrine of the Blessed Virgin in Cordova. She also
made a visit to the chapel of our Lady of the Rosary of the Dominican Church of
Saint Paul in Cordova, and humbly kneeling before the altar, prayed in words
like to these: “My Mother and my Queen! may it be pleasing to you that my child
may belong to you.”
This child, so piously
dedicated to God before its entrance into this world, was born 25 November
1644. At the moment of his birth a new star appeared in the heavens above his
mother’s poor and unpretentious dwelling, and a very singular light was seen in
the chamber, which caused all present to say: “This child will become a saint.”
He was baptized in the parish-church of Saint Andrew. As soon as his mother was
able she carried him to the chapel of our Lady of the Rosary in Saint Paul’s
Church, and placing him at the feet of the statue of the Queen of Heaven, said:
“This my son is no longer mine but thine.” This gift was accepted; for Mary
took the little child Francis, as we shall see, all for her own.
It was noticed that on
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays he took nourishment only once and not until
late in the evening. The first word he pronounced was the sweet name of Mary,
and the first complete sentence the “Hail Mary.” When a mere child he began to
fast on bread and water every Friday in Lent At the age of five he made his
first confession, and surprised the confessor by his more than child-like
wisdom. He was allowed to receive Holy Communion when he was seven years of
age. Every morning he served several Masses in the Dominican Church of Saint
Paul. His heart was full of compassion for the poor, and he set aside all he
could lay his hands upon for them, although there was no abundance in his
mother’s house. She gave him two little images, one of our Divine Lord, the
other of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and he made a little altar for them and said
the Rosary there every day.
He often gathered
together as many as forty children of his own age, and forming a procession,
led them through the streets of the town saying the Rosary. Although these
children were so young, they were so modest in their behavior, and so earnest
in their piety, that one of the principal citizens, Louis de X6r6s, took great
delight in accompanying them, saying: “Who could fail to be devout, seeing such
piety in children?” After they had said the Rosary Francis, preached a little
sermon to them. “Why do you offend God?” he would say; “God, who gives us being
and who takes care of us always.”
“Be careful about what
you say,” he once said, “because those who speak evil words and those who
listen will both become the prey of the devil.”
If they came to a wayside
cross, that beautiful sight so often seen in Catholic countries, they all knelt
down and prayed thus: “O Cross! upon which our God died, separate us from the
evil company of the devil.”
Sometimes he and his
companions went to play on the slopes of the Sierra Morena mountains, near the
town. While they amused themselves with childish play he would retire unseen
into one of the caves in the mountain sides, to pray and very often to do
penance.
Several times during his
youth God showed how dear this young boy was to him, by preserving him in a
wonderful way from danger. Thus, when attacked with the pest, and all hope of
recovery had been given up, he suddenly recovered, contrary to all
expectations.
Another time, attempting
to pick a flower, he fell into a well, but was miraculously suspended in the
air, and was drawn out again by no earthly hand. Once, while bathing, he was
carried away by the current; recommending himself to Mary, the Mother of God,
he suddenly found himself on the river side.
The Most Holy Virgin
appeared to him one night in a dream, holding several rosaries in her hand, and
sweetly invited him to select one of them: no doubt to reward him for his
faithfulness in reciting the rosary, and to encourage him more and more to love
that beautiful devotion. His angel guardian made himself visible to him
frequently under the form of a beautiful child, clothed in the habit of Saint
Dominic.
Francis knew that his
mother had vowed that he should enter the Order of that holy saint, and he
desired nothing more than to do so. But his father having died, his mother
remarried. Her second husband was a man of strange character, and would not
hear of it. Instead of allowing him to learn Latin, he apprenticed him to a
workman, who treated him with great cruelty; but Francis put his trust in God,
and bore all this ill-treatment meekly.
Other misfortunes soon
fell upon him. The devil, seeing the patient youth become holier and holier,
began to persecute him, hoping to wear out his endurance, and to entice him
into some sin. He appeared to him, and tried to snatch the rosary from his
neck, where he always carried it. The holy youth held it with one hand, while
he made the saving sign of the cross with the other, saying to the devil: “Look
at the cross!” and the arch-fiend immediately took flight. Having thus learnt
how formidable the Rosary is to the devil, he always carried two with him: one
round his neck and the other in his pocket. The devil, not being able to harm
his soul, revenged himself upon his body by striking and maltreating him; God
permitting this to test his patience and humility.
Some persons having
noticed how Francis was tormented, fearing that he might be possessed, took him
to be examined by a learned priest, who after he had questioned him said: “Tell
his parents that he ought to be set to study, that he may become a religious,
and then all this will cease.” His mother was only too willing that he should
do so, but his stepfather refused to receive him at home.
One of the Dominican
Fathers of Saint Paul’s monastery came to his aid and offered him a part of his
own cell. He gladly accepted this offer, and began to study Latin grammar with
the children, although he was 17 years of age, rejoicing in the contempt heaped
upon him on account of his ignorance. He soon surpassed them, and showed that
he was possessed of great aptitude for study, and endowed with natural
quickness of mind. His mother, having become a widow a second time, he returned
to his home. He cherished his mother, served her with such tender love that she
often said to her friends: “My son is a saint; he bathes my feet, he makes my
bed, obeys me in all things, and gives me every mark of love.” How different
his conduct from that of young men of our time! They accept every service from
their parents, but give nothing in return. In his old age he once said: “If God
is so merciful to me it is on account of the good will with which I always
obeyed my mother.” And when he was nominated Bishop several times he said: “I
attribute these marks of honor to God alone, who wishes perhaps to reward me
for the ardent desire 1 always had to honor my mother.”
At length, when he was
sufficiently advanced in his studies, his mother, at his own request, applied
to the Dominican Fathers of Saint Paul’s monastery in Cordova, to receive him
as a choir novice. She was refused, not on account of his family, which was an
ancient and honorable one, but because his mother had exercised the calling of
huckster in the city.
This was an unlooked-for
and terrible blow to Francis, and a great mortification to his worthy mother.
So she persuaded him to ask entrance into another religious Order, where he was
joyfully accepted.
When the day came for him
to go he went to say farewell to the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Rosary Chapel
of the Dominican Church. He found it very hard to leave this chapel, which he
loved so much. On his return he seemed very sad, and when his mother asked the
cause of his grief, he replied: “I am sad, and shall weep all my life because,
wishing to be a son of Saint Dominic, you oblige me to enter another Order.”
Alarmed by what he said she went to consult the Dominican Father who had been
so kind to him. This good Father, learning how firm the young man was in his
desire to become a Dominican, bethought of some excuse to prevent his going to
the monastery in which he had been accepted, so that by gaining time he might
find some monastery of the Dominican Order willing to receive him.
Accordingly he
recommended him to the Prior of the celebrated monastery of Scala Coeli,
founded by Blessed Alvarez of Cordova, in the beginning of the fourteenth
century, three miles from Cordova, on the first slope of the Sierra Morena
mountains. The fathers of this monastery, after making inquiries, received him unanimously,
and after giving him the habit, sent him to make his year of novitiate in the
monastery of Saint Catherine de Jaen. As soon as the Prior of Saint Paul’s in
Cordova heard that Francis was about to receive the Dominican habit at Scala
Coeli, he immediately wrote to oppose it; but being too late, he laid a
complaint before the Father Provincial, who having examined into the matter,
confirmed what the Prior of Scala Coeli had done. Francis entered the Order in
the year 1662, when he was 18 years of age.
After his novitiate he
made his profession, November the 25th, 1663, his nineteenth birthday, and then
returned to Scala Coeli; upon which the Prior of Saint Paul’s forbade him to
visit Cordova. This was very humiliating; but no doubt it was the intention of
God to humble him early in life, and thus to lay the foundation of solid
humility in his heart. From Scala Coeli he was sent to the monastery at San
Lucar at Barrameda, to study philosophy and theology. There he became
remarkable, not only for his sanctity, but also for his quickness in his
studies. One day he heard Father Gonzalez, a Jesuit, preach; from that time he
became a saint, all on fire with the love of God. He redoubled his fasts and
penances, and gave himself to the service of the poor, striving in all things,
great and small, to become a perfect religious.
He was ordained priest at
Barrameda, after which he went to Cordova to say his first Mass at the altar of
Our Lady of the Holy Fountain, to fulfil his mother’s vow, and then returned to
San Lucar, where he was employed in preaching. He converted many sinners in
that town; and his zeal for souls became such as to rival that of the great
Dominican Apostle, Saint Vincent Ferrer. One woman, whom he converted, said of
him: “No one could fail to be converted having heard this saint preach.”
God made known to him
that he would become a great preacher and fisher of men. One night he had the
following dream: “I dreamed,” he said, “that I was on the banks of a river
catching fish with my mouth. Astonished at this peculiar manner of fishing, I
awoke, and at first was afraid it was some deception, but after this dream I
felt so great a love for God and my neighbor, that not being able to remain in
the monastery, I went out into the country, and not finding any souls to save
there, began to fill the air with my sighs.”
The prediction contained
in this vision was fully verified in his apostolic ministry.
Having been recalled to
Scala Coeli, he passed through Cordova, where the Prior of Saint Paul’s, who had
heard of his virtues and holiness, asked him to preach in the church. He
willingly consented, but the fathers of the monastery refused to listen to him.
He bore this affront with patience. He also preached in the other churches in
the town, and having done much good by his sermons, the fathers of Saint Paul’s
monastery at length owned they had done him wrong by their behavior towards
him.
One who had been the
foremost in the opposition to him, wished to make him a public reparation. When
Blessed Francis came out of the pulpit after one of his sermons, he went to
meet him, embraced him with great affection, in the sight of all the people,
and formed such an affection for him that he often accompanied him on his
missions.
On his return to Scala
Coeli the fathers appointed him to take charge of a hospital, close to one of
the gates of the town of Cordova, which was under the care of the Dominicans.
He lived there until his death, being absent only when he gave missions.
The day of his arrival he
saw an angel, who told him that he would meet with many crosses there. In the
evening he always rang the bell to call the people together to say the rosary,
and in the day-time remained for hours in the confessional, where crowds
gathered the whole day, he having to remain there frequently until late at
night Very great sinners went to confession to him, and he began to experience
many temptations when hearing the sad stories of their lives. “But God made me
as if dead,” he said, “and I began to learn how generous he is to those who
expose themselves to danger for the sake of souls.”
To this gift God added an
intuitive knowledge of the state of his penitents’ souls. “Why do you hide such
and such sins from me,” he said to some who concealed their grievous sins, and
he told them the number and kind of those sins of which they were so ashamed.
“You must confess this sin,” he said to another, “because you have not yet
accused yourself of it,” and he named the sin. And to a woman who kept silence
about some sin she was guilty of he said: “This is the sin you are ashamed to
acknowledge.” He reminded one man of a sin he had committed twelve years
before, which he thought was completely hidden. To another he said: “Why do you
come to confession without any intention pf banishing the hatred from your
heart which you have for your own daughter?” And in this way he led them to
unburden their souls to God.
Sometimes the Blessed
Virgin Mary sent him sinners to convert One day she appeared to a woman who was
leading a bad life, and said to her: “Go to Father Posadas and confess your
sins to him.” She went, changed her life, and spent the remainder of her days
in penance for her sins. The holy angels aided him in the work of the ministry.
One evening he went to hear the confession of a woman who was in danger of
death. It was a very stormy night and the wind blew out his lantern; but an
angel appeared at his side carrying a torch, and accompanied him to the house
and back again to the hospital. Another time, as he was seated near his confessional,
he saw two women enter the church, to one of whom he said: “Come here, my
daughter; the Lord calls you; come and make your confession.” And the woman,
turning to look at him, saw that he was surrounded by a heavenly light. Then,
although she had no intention of reconciling herself to God, she spent the
whole morning in making a general confession; and so sincerely repentant was
she that she soon repaired all the scandals she had formerly given.
Blessed Francis touched
the hearts of the most hardened without difficulty. One day a certain person
found him in tears and asked him what was the matter. “What can be the matter
with me,” he said, “if it is not that I am the vilest, most miserable, and most
infamous man and the most ungrateful wretch on the face of the earth.”
One day, near the end of
his life, he said to his confessor: “I should so much like to have a great
sorrow for my sins, that every morning in the holy Mass I ask my divine Lord to
grant me true contrition.” When he preached the church was filled early in the
morning, and many were obliged to stand in the porch. Sometimes it became
necessary to preach in the open air, the crowd being so large. Bishops,
Inquisitors, the clergy, many noblemen and persons of high rank were to be
found among his audience, and every one said: “He is a saint; another Saint
Vincent Ferrer; a second Saint John Chrysostom.” As soon as he began to speak
his voice made his hearers tremble; and after awhile the love of God which
filled his heart set his soul all on fire, his face shone with supernatural
light, and his body often seemed surrounded with rays of glory. Many times his
feet were raised above the earth, and the people could see that he no longer
stood on the ground but was raised in the air. His voice resounded afar, and
the astonished people often cried out that he was an angel and not a man. Once
a bright flame was seen to come from his mouth, at another time he was
surrounded by bright seraphim enveloped in clouds of light; this was testified
to by many witnesses. But when he preached of the goodness of God, or of the
sweetness with which he invites and patiently awaits sinners, or of the love of
God for us, his tears fell, sobs stifled his voice, and he was frequently
obliged to leave the pulpit without finishing his sermon. Thus it is related
that preaching on the feast of Saint Philip Neri on the love of God for men, he
began to weep vehemently, and his tears excited such emotion among the audience
that he was obliged to discontinue his sermon.
When preaching missions
he found many who were ignorant of their Christian duties, and often spent the
whole day in instructing them in Catholic doctrine.
He completely changed the
people of Cordova. He persuaded the inhabitants to close the theatres, and all
other places of amusements dangerous to morality, by preaching energetically
against vice and sinful pleasures. At first the nobles and young men about town
were very angry, but the saint’s preaching and his holy life gained their
hearts, and they too repented of their sins, and began to live according to the
teaching of religion. Missions succeeded each other in every parish church in
the town, preached by zealous and holy priests, headed by Cardinal Belluze, at
that time canon of the cathedral.
Processions of penitents
reciting the Rosary wended their way through the streets, and the
confraternities in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary increased so much that the
whole town appeared devoted to her service. When Blessed Francis went out the
people followed him, saying: “Here is the saint.” As he passed they came out of
the houses to kneel and receive his blessing, to kiss his scapular, or obtain
something which had belonged to him. All this filled him with confusion. Every
one sought his counsel, believing that he was enlightened by God. The Bishop,
parish priests, the governor of the town, judges, all applied to him for advice
in difficult cases, and he often gave proof that his judgment was superior to
that of men.
His name became famous in
every part of Spain. King Charles 2d wished to have him for his confessor, and
twice nominated him Bishop; first of Alhieri, in Sardinia, afterwards of Cadiz;
but notwithstanding the earnest wishes of Cardinal Salazar, he would not accept
so great a dignity. To all the Cardinal’s reasons he contented himself by
saying: “Your Eminence wishes to persuade me, but you will never shake my
resolution.” He could never think of the honors which all showed him without
tears, and when a friend asked him what gave him such grief, he said: “Alas!
have I not need to weep for fear that when I try to humble myself I only meet
with praises and honor?”
When the Fathers of the
Monastery of the Holy Martyrs in Cordova elected him Prior, he refused the
dignity, and in his letter to the Provincial said: “O that the Blessed Virgin
would come to my aid. I would rather be condemned to a galley-ship than be
Prior.” Later on, when he received several votes for the office of Provincial,
he smiled and said: “I think the fathers wish to have a carnival at my expense.”
The see of Cordova having become vacant, a report gained ground that he would
be nominated. This annoyed him much. “Would it not be monstrous,” he said, “to
see a man brought up in the midst of market baskets in this town with a mitre
on his head?”
But it was when he
thought of his unworthiness to be a priest, to stand at the altar to say Mass,
and take his God, hidden in the Blessed Sacrament, into his hands, that he felt
humbled the most. He was once heard to say: “O! what fatality! a God to come in
my hands!” When he came to the elevation in the Mass, his body trembled, and he
could not stifle his sighs.
One day, when our Lord
had deigned to appear to him in the Blessed Sacrament, his agitation was so
great that the assistant feared the Host would break in his hands. At another
time, wrapped in ecstasy, his feet were raised from the ground without his
knowing it, for he said to his confessor afterwards: “I know not if it was the
earth which was wanting to me, but I do not understand what happened. Would to
God that I was grateful to him for all his graces.”
Once, when he said the
words of consecration, our Lord said to him: “My son, it is I, who am what I
am.” He remained several instants out of himself, and then elevating the host,
his soul drew his body upwards and he was suspended some time in the air. When
he came down again a number of persons saw that he was surrounded by brilliant
light. This heavenly light frequently appeared when he celebrated the holy
mysteries; the wrinkles on his face vanished, his brow became as transparent as
glass, and his cheeks, which were usually pale, all on fire. At the Gospel a
ray of light was sometimes seen to issue from his mouth; and twice on the feast
of Pentecost a light, so dazzling that the whole altar was lit by it, came from
his body.
The Most Holy Virgin
sometimes appeared to him, when he celebrated the Mass in her honor. Once on
the feast of her Nativity, she caused him to see her in her cradle; and on the
feast of her Compassion she appeared to him as she stood at the foot of the
cross. The holy Apostles Saints Peter and Paul, the martyr Saint Catherine, to
whom he was most devout, and many other saints appeared to him on their feast
days during the holy sacrifice. The angels themselves assisted at it, holding
his hands at the elevation. We should not be astonished at this, for do we not
know that the angels are our guardians upon earth, and that they always assist
with great respect during Mass, adoring our hidden Saviour in the sacrament of
his love? Our eyes are not worthy to see them, and many never give their holy
presence a thought, yet they are no less around and about us, pray for us
without ceasing, and continually preserve us from harm. Finding in Blessed
Francis a pure soul, and a heart all given to God, they made themselves
visible, to manifest his holiness and to give honor to God.
Several persons recovered
the health of their souls, and others the health of their bodies, by attending
Mass celebrated by the holy priest. At the end of the Mass numbers of sick
crowded around him, asking him to read the Gospel over them, and many were
healed. Among other miraculous cures worked in this way, he several times gave
sight to the blind.
One woman, advised by the
doctors to prepare for death, after she had confessed, asked him to wash his
fingers and to give her the water to drink.
“What power is there in
my hands?” he asked.
“Father,” answered the
sick woman, “do you not say holy Mass?”
“You are right,” he said;
“may your faith cure you,” and having washed his hands, he gave her the water,
and immediately she had drank it, she was cured.
There was a Moorish woman
in Cordova, 104 years old, who had resisted all the charitable persuasions of
her acquaintances to become a Christian. Blessed Francis prayed for her
continually, and even she could not resist his prayers. One night the Blessed
Virgin, accompanied by F. Francis, appeared to her, as she herself afterwards
related. In the morning she sent for him. He was just about to begin Mass. He
took off his vestments, and turning to those present, said: “The business on
which I am called is more pressing than the Mass; recommend me to God, for I am
going to try to gain a soul.” When he came to the sick woman he said, “Maria
della Biancha, do you wish to become Christian?”
“Yes,” she answered, “I
do.”
“I knew that yesterday
evening,” he said, “and I know also that you have had a visit from our Blessed
Lady della Biancha” He then laid his rosary upon the sick old woman and sent
for the parish priest, who baptized her and gave her the name of Maria della
Biancha, in honor of the Blessed Virgin, by whom she had been saved.
A little afterwards she
became worse, when he said the prayers for a soul departing this life, during
which she said: “Father Francis! I am dying.”
He covered her face when
she was dead with his black cloak, and turning towards the assistants, he said:
“You will see something wonderful,” and lifting it he showed them the face of
the dead woman, which had become marvellously white and beautiful; thus she was
in reality as well as in name, “Maria della Biancha.”
When he was sick and
could not hear the confessions of those who sent for him, he visited them in
spirit. One day, when he had thus been to console one of his penitents, the
sick man reproached his servants for not having saluted the Father on his
leaving the house. They looked at each other in surprise to see if he was in
his right mind, and declared that they had neither seen nor heard the Father.
Once he forbade one of his penitents to discipline himself on his bare
shoulders. This man, not liking the prohibition, began one night to take the
discipline, according to his old custom. Just at that moment he heard Father
Francis call him to the door. He was filled with confusion for having been discovered
in an act of disobedience, but he was afterwards astonished to hear that Father
Francis, owing to sickness, had not left the monastery for a single moment that
evening.
One day Blessed Francis
ran after a man in the street and overtaking him, said: “Brother, where are you
going?”
“Father,” answered the
man, “I am going to take a walk.”
“Your walk is a bad one,”
was the answer. “Pull out that cord you have hidden in your pocket. You have
committed a great sin in losing the respect which you ought to have for your
mother, but remember that the mercy of God is greater than your sin.”
He then led the man to
the church, where he spent three hours in preparing him for his confession,
which was made with great sorrow and many resolutions of amendment.
There was a certain nun
who, falling sick, was given up by the doctors. Father Francis found her full
of regrets for leaving this life; he said: “God has warned you several times
before, by an accident, and in other ways, with the hope of correcting you, and
that is the reason why you are threatened with death today. Is it not so?”
“I will amend,” the
sister replied.
“If you will,” he said,
“I offer life to you in God’s name. If you live as a good religious should, you
will live a long time.” And God kept the promise his servant Francis had made
to her in his name, for she lived many years more.
Thus the life of the
servant of God passed away in preaching, hearing confessions, and leading souls
to God. At last God called him to his reward. The evening before he died he
sent for the barber to shave his tonsure, and when the man came said to him, “I
am sick; please shave me.” The next evening, hearing of the saint’s death, he
recalled to his mind that he had often said to Blessed Francis that he would
not shave a dead man for a whole kingdom, and that the Father had answered that
he would shave him to the end of his life. And he had no doubt that it was to
hinder him from performing this sad duty after death that Blessed Francis was
shaved about ten days before the usual day. He knew the hour when he would
leave this world, and the kind of death he was to die.
He said: “I shall die
suddenly, and it will be soon.” Having said Mass on the morning of September
the 20th, 1713, he went into the confessional as usual. There were many people
in the church, and it was remarked that he seemed very joyful. To his penitents
he gave very salutary advice, telling them that it was the last they would
receive from him. “I must give you a rule of life,” he said to one, “because my
infirmities increase, and later on I do not know if I shall be able to do so.”
He warned another of a great affront he would shortly receive, and counselled
him to bear it patiently. When it happened a few months afterwards, this man
remembered what the Blessed Father had said to him.
Another penitent, a man
of great virtue, whom he loved very much, accompanied him to the sacristy door.
When he left the church Father Francis looked at him with tears in his eyes,
and said one word only, “Adieu,” but he remained standing in the doorway. When
the man reached the middle of the Church he turned, and the Father again said,
“Adieu,” and again a third time as he left the church. The priest and the
penitent, who loved each other so much, saw each other for the last time on
earth.
As he entered the
hospital a religious asked him to console him in some spiritual trouble which
effected him. Both sat down upon a bench, and the sad religious opened his
heart to the holy priest and obtained peace. At table that day he was seized
with an attack of apoplexy, and lost consciousness. The doctors giving no hope
of his recovery, he was absolved and anointed, and the indulgences of the
Dominican Order and the Rosary applied to him. Thinking he was dying, the
fathers sang the “Credo,” a last act of faith for the soul which was about to
appear before its Creator. When they saw that he still breathed, they suggested
pious prayers to him, which he evidently heard and understood. At five o’clock
his head sank; and again they sang the “Credo,” after which he seemed to rest a
little. At seven the fathers saw that he was on the point of death, and sang
the “Credo,” amid their tears, a third time, during which he calmly died. He
was in his 69th year.
As soon as he was dead
all kissed his feet. They divided among themselves all the little objects he
was accustomed to use; and his habit, which was covered with blood, the doctors
haying bled him, they cut into pieces. The Viscount de Miranda obtained a
glassful of blood, and sent it as a precious relic to his wife. Many sick were
cured by it. The Viscountess remembered that one day, having desired him to
give her something as a remembrance of him, Father Francis had answered: “I
will give you the blood of my veins some day.”
At the moment of his death
several persons saw a globe of fire in the air above the hospital. Many others
saw a bright star, and said one to the other, “Something extraordinary has
taken place at Cordova;” and on hearing of the death of Blessed Francis, they
ran in crowds to the hospital, only to find the doors closed.
His body was carried the
same evening by the Fathers to the monastery of Saint Paul, followed by the
people saying the Rosary. Every one tried to touch the body, which sent forth a
sweet perfume. The face had kept its natural beauty, the limbs were yet warm
and flexible, and from the opened vein flowed a stream of blood which was
collected and religiously preserved.
Early next morning, by
order of the Cathedral Chapter, the bells of the Cathedral were tolled, as if for
the death of a Bishop; the bells of all the parish churches and monasteries
were rung.
The Bishop of Buenos
Ayres, the inquisitors, canons, the principal religious and noblemen all went
to kiss the feet of the dead saint. The town authorities asked permission from
the Prior of Saint Paul’s to make a tomb for him in the cemetery of the
Dominican Monastery, and it was remarked that to do so it became necessary to
remove the bodies of those very Fathers who had so bitterly opposed his
entrance into the Dominican Order.
At the funeral the
clergy, magistrates and noblemen assisted, in a body, to pay him this last mark
of honor. The superiors of the religious orders carried the coffin, which,
according to Dominican custom, was open. The crowd of people was so dense, that
it became impossible to advance, and the devotion shown so great that they
tried to steal his habit from his body, so that it became necessary to lock up
the body in the sacristy, and postpone the burial. The next day, before
sunrise, he was buried. The authorities of the town obtained one key of the
coffin, and the other was left in the possession of the Dominican Fathers.
After his death miracles
were worked in answer to prayer made to God through him. One in honor of the
rosary, his favorite prayers, deserves special mention. A certain man was at
the point of death; some one offered him a rosary, which had touched the body
of the saint He said: “This is a new idea; Father Francis was a good Christian,
but no saint.”
Nevertheless, the rosary
was hung around his neck, when the dying man immediately cried out: “Take it
away, it burns me.”
“That is because you have
not called upon the saint of God with faith,” some one said to him.
“O God, pardon me!” he
cried out. “O saint of my soul! I believe that you are a saint, and a great
one, too,” and in an instant the fire which had burned him cooled, and he was
cured.
Blessed Francis was
beatified by Pius the 7th, in 1818. He was the author of several works. “The
Triumph of Chastity,” “The Life of the Venerable Mother Leonarda,” a Dominican
nun, “The life of Blessed Christopher of Saint Catharine,” founder of the
hospital of Jesus of Nazareth in Cordova, “A life of Saint Dominic,” and
“Warnings to the Town of Cordova,” are the principal literary works he has left
behind him.
Prayer
Ant. He made an
everlasting covenant with him, and made him blessed in glory.
V. Pray for us, O Blessed
Francis,
R. That we may be worthy
of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray.
O God, who didst raise up
Blessed Francis, Thy confessor, imbued with the sweetness of heavenly charity
to be an illustrious preacher of Thy word, grant through his intercession that
we may be kindled with the fire of Thy love, and live ever in Thy charity,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
MLA
Citation
Father Thomas
Austin Dyson. “Blessed Ambrose of Siena”. The
Life of Saint Pius the Fifth, and Other Saints and Blessed of the Order of
Friar Preachers, 1886. CatholicSaints.Info.
7 May 2023. Web. 19 September 2023.
<https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-francis-de-posadas-model-of-rosarians-by-father-thomas-austin-dyson/>
Beato Francesco de
Posadas Domenicano
Cordova 1644 - 1713
A 18 anni entrò nel
convento di Scala Coeli, presso Cordova, costruito e santificato dal suo
concittadino il b. Alvaro. Ardente propagatore del Rosario, vivace predicatore,
apostolo instancabile, ottenne dai contemporanei l'elogio di "San Vincenzo
redivivo". Rifiutò umilmente le sedi vescovili di Alghero in Sardegna e di
Cadice. Morì semplice religioso il 20 settembre 1713 a Cordova sua città
natale.
Martirologio
Romano: A Córdova in Spagna, beato Francesco de Posadas, sacerdote
dell’Ordine dei Predicatori, che, insigne per penitenza, umiltà e carità,
annunciò Cristo per quarant’anni in questa regione.
Francesco De Posadas nacque a Cordova, il 25 novembre 1644, dalla nobile famiglia decaduta di Orense, tanto che i suoi genitori, per vivere, facevano i fruttivendoli. Francesco prese il bianco Abito nella sua città natale, nel Convento fondato da Padre Alvaro. Dette segni di santità fin dalla culla, in quanto, ancora in fasce, si asteneva dal prendere il latte tutti i venerdì e, appena balbettante, già pronunziava con gran sentimento il nome dolcissimo di Maria. Tanta ardente pietà crebbe con lui, e ancor fanciullo sapeva persuadere anche i grandi a praticare la virtù. Erano questi i primi segni di quello zelo che tanto lo avrebbe distinto. Perso il babbo all’età di cinque anni, ancora giovanissimo, nel 1662, entrò nell’Ordine Domenicano, così rispondente ai suoi vivi desideri di apostolato. Parve portasse radicato nel cuore l’ideale di Frate Predicatore e si può immaginare con quale ardore si preparasse alla sua missione. Iniziato il sacro ministero, con l’obbedienza e la benedizione dei superiori, parve rivivere in lui San Vincenzo Ferreri. Andò incontro non solo ai bisogni delle anime, predicando, insegnando, amministrando i Sacramenti, ma si sforzò ancora di più nel portare soccorso a ogni umana miseria. Gli infermi, i poveri, i carcerati furono oggetto delle sue più tenere sollecitudini, e per loro si privava anche del necessario. Come il suo glorioso Padre Domenico, ricusò i Vescovadi di Algesiras e di Radice, come pure ogni altro incarico onorifico nell’Ordine, per potersi spendere senza tregua a pro delle anime. Fu questa la sua nobilissima passione, e per quarant’anni si profuse in si sante fatiche. Si spense beatamente nel suo convento di Cordova, il 20 settembre 1713. Dio onorò con i miracoli la sua tomba presso la chiesa cittadina di San Paolo. Papa Pio VII il 20 settembre 1818 lo ha proclamato Beato.
Autore: Franco Mariani
SOURCE : https://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/90803
Den salige Frans de
Posadas (1644-1713)
Minnedag: 20.
september
Den salige Frans de
Posadas (sp: Francisco) ble født den 25. november 1644 i Córdoba i Andalucía i
Sør-Spania. [Kilden Butler's Lives of the Saints skriver at han ble
født den 5. november.] Hans foreldre, Stéfano Martín Losada og María Fernández
Posadas, arbeidet som grønnsakshandlere. Han fikk sin utdannelse av
dominikaneren Antonio Mogano og jesuittene med sikte på å bli dominikaner, en
tanke som han selv fant tiltrekkende. Han ble derfor skuffet da moren etter farens
død giftet seg på nytt og stefaren bestemte at hans studier var bortkastet tid
og sendte ham som lærling til en viss Juan de Góngora.
Først ble Frans behandlet
hardt av sin mester, men han ble etter hvert vunnet over av den unge mannens
tålmodighet, godhet og harde arbeid, og han gjorde det mulig for Frans å
fortsette studiene i fritiden. Da stefaren døde i 1662 betydde det at Frans
etter å ha tatt seg av moren en stund, igjen kunne tenke på å slutte seg til
dominikanerne (Ordo Fratrum Praedicatorum – OP). Selv om klosteret
San Pablo i Córdoba ikke ville akseptere ham, gjorde klosteret Scala Coeli det
med glede. Han ble ikledd drakten den 23. november 1662 i klosteret Santa
Caterina i Jaén, men han vendte tilbake til Scala Coeli ett år senere, etter at
han hadde avlagt løftene.
De første få årene var
ikke spesielt lykkelige, ettersom hans medbrødre, som ikke forsto ham utsatte
ham for latterliggjøring og smålig forfølgelse. Men han holdt ut og ble med
tiden presteviet. Selv om han var kjent for sine bønner og for de
ekstraordinære fenomener som noen ganger fulgte dem, inkludert levitasjon (det
vil si at han svevde under bønn), var det som predikant han straks markerte
seg. Han reiste snart ut på misjoner over hele det sørvestlige Spania, hvor han
ble hyllet som en ny Vincent Ferrer.
Han var ikke fornøyd med
det harde livet å preke og høre skriftemål, så han reiste til fots over alt der
han kunne og praktiserte strenge frivillige botsøvelser. Hans kontakt med de
fattige gjorde ham ydmyk, og han unngikk alle høye embeter, både innen ordenen
og da han ble tilbudt bispesetene Alghero på Sardinia og Cádiz. Men fordi
folket kunne se at han levde som han lærte, ble hans innflytelse enorm. I selve
Córdoba bidro han til å heve standarden i den offentlige og private moralen, og
det i en slik grad at bordeller måtte stenge på grunn av mangel på kunder. Han
skrev også mange bøker, inkludert biografier om den hellige Dominikus og
andre hellige medlemmer av ordenen, «Kyskhetens triumf» og utallige moralske
formaninger.
Han døde den 20.
september 1713 i klosteret Scala Coeli i Córdoba. Han ble saligkåret den 20.
september 1818 (dokumentet (Breve) var datert den 11. september) av pave Pius
VII (1800-23). Hans minnedag er dødsdagen 20. september.
Kilder:
Attwater/Cumming, Butler (IX), Benedictines, Index99, Patron Saints SQPN,
Bautz, santiebeati.it - Kompilasjon og oversettelse: p. Per Einar Odden -
Opprettet: 2000-06-21 21:44 -
Sist oppdatert: 2006-06-20 19:31
SOURCE : http://www.katolsk.no/biografier/historisk/fposadas
Beato Francisco de
Posadas
Biografía
Martín Fernández,
Francisco. Beato Francisco de Posadas. Córdoba, 25.XI.1644 –
20.IX.1713. Beato, predicador, escritor (OP).
Hijo de Esteban Martín
Losada y de María Fernández Posadas, naturales de Lama de Arcos (Orense) y
afincados en Córdoba. Recibió el bautismo en la parroquial de San Andrés (Libros
de bautismos, t. 16, fol. 118r.). Contaba apenas cinco años de edad cuando
falleció su padre, y la madre lo sacó adelante a fuerza de trabajo en una
tiendecita de verduras que abrió en la placeta del convento de San Pablo. El
niño poseía una inteligencia aguda y un corazón generoso.
A la hora de elegir
profesión, su madre quiso que entrase en el convento de San Pablo; en él conocían
bien sus cualidades intelectuales y morales, mas también su condición social, y
no lo recibieron. Persistió el postulante en su vocación y, gracias a la
recomendación de un padre maestro de San Pablo, lo admitieron en el humilde
convento de Escalaceli. El prior de San Pablo, fray Gabriel de la Cruz, no lo
aprobaba, pero ya fray Francisco, vestido de dominico, caminaba por los
olivares rumbo a Jaén, donde hizo el noviciado y profesó. Después del noviciado
tenía que hacer los cursos de Filosofía y Teología. Lo enviaron a Sanlúcar de
Barrameda, donde dio sobradas pruebas de aplicación y piedad. El 22 de
diciembre de 1668 recibió la ordenación sacerdotal de manos del obispo de
Guadix, Diego de Silva y Pacheco, y cantó su primera misa en el santuario de Nuestra
Señora de la Fuensanta en Córdoba.
Francisco de Posadas
tenía extraordinarias dotes para predicador, y los superiores lo destinaron a
esa tarea.
Poco a poco, fue
cambiando la situación de antaño y los religiosos del convento de San Pablo le
invitaron a predicar en su iglesia. Se granjeó la admiración y cariño de los
cordobeses, que aún siguen refiriéndose a él como “el padre Posadas”; y a la
casita donde vivía, “el Hospitalico del P. Posadas”. Misionero popular,
recorrió las ciudades y pueblos de Andalucía, predicando y propagando la
devoción mariana del Rosario.
También fue el predicador
de los grandes acontecimientos y fiestas de la ciudad. Desde 1674 hasta su
muerte, residió en el “Hospitalico”, que estaba abierto a toda clase de
personas, incluido el cardenal Pedro de Salazar, obispo de Córdoba, a quien
sentaba en una silla de enea, disculpándose así: “Ya sabe vuestra eminencia que
esta casa es pobre”.
De su producción
literaria cabe destacar: Vida de santo Domingo (1701) y Triunfos
de la castidad (1698).
La Vida de santo
Domingo, más que una biografía histórica, es una autobiografía. El libro
obtuvo una estupenda acogida, repitiéndose las ediciones una tras otra.
Triunfos de la
castidad, es una rica polémica contra el quietismo, o más
concretamente, como reza el título, contra la luxuria diabólica de
Molinos. Miguel de Molinos había gozado en Roma de vasto prestigio como
director de almas, y parejo éxito obtuvo su Guía espiritual (Roma,
1675). Pero contra su fama y su doctrina se alzaron voces de crítica teológica,
que le condujeron a la cárcel de la Inquisición romana, y a una masiva condena
pronunciada por el papa Inocencio XI el 20 de noviembre de 1687. Francisco de
Posadas parte de las proposiciones de Molinos resumidas y condenadas
en la bula Coelestis Pastor, y las va analizando y desmontando una
por una. No se detiene a indagar el origen u objetividad molinosiana de esas
proposiciones. Le basta saber que en el campo de la genuina piedad cristiana
han hecho estragos. En Andalucía la Guía espiritual de Molinos tuvo
un entusiasta propagandista, el arzobispo de Sevilla, Jaime Palafox y Cardona,
que tuvo que retractarse.
El padre Posadas murió en el “Hospitalico” el 20 de septiembre de 1713, y la ciudad entera, con sus autoridades civiles y eclesiásticas, acudió a acompañar su cadáver procesionalmente a la iglesia de San Pablo, donde fue enterrado y donde yacen sus restos. En 1718 se inició el proceso, que culminó en el Vaticano con la solemne beatificación del padre Posadas, el 20 de septiembre de 1818.
Obras de ~: Vida y virtudes del venerable siervo de Dios el padre Cristóbal de Santa Catalina, Córdoba, 1691, 1699 y 1764; Vida de la vulnerable madre sor Leonor María de Cristo, Jaén, 1699; Vida del glorioso Padre Patriarca santo Domingo de Guzmán, Córdoba, 1694; Sermón de rogativas por el buen suceso de las guerras de Cataluña, Córdoba, 1694; Triunfos de la castidad, Córdoba, 1698 y 1748 (Madrid, 1775); Obras póstumas, Córdoba, Pedro Alcalá, 1736-1739, 6 vols.
Fuentes y bibl.: Archivio
Segreto Vaticano, Riti 574- 590, proceso del beato F. de Posadas;
Biblioteca Nacional de España, ms. 6732, fols. 239-240, Carta que remitió
el M. R. P. Prior de San Pablo de Córdoba a toda la provincia de Andalucía
sobre la muerte del M. R. P. Presentado P. Posadas, 14 de octubre de 1713.
P. de Alcalá, Vida del Ven. Siervo de Dios el M. R. P. Presentado Fr. Francisco de Posadas, del Sagrado Orden de Predicadores, hijo del convento de Scala-Coeli extramuros de la ciudad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Acisclo Cortés, 1728; J. de Pozo, Vita del servo di Dio F. de Posadas, Roma, 1731; R. de Leyva, Vida, virtudes y milagros del P. F. de Posadas, Córdoba, 1807; V. Sopena, Vita del b. F. Posadas, Roma, 1818; Á. Huerga, “Posadas, Francisco de”, en Q. Aldea Vaquero, T. Marín Martínez y J. Vives Gatell (dirs.), Diccionario de Historia Eclesiástica de España, vol. III, Madrid, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Instituto Enrique Flórez, 1973, págs. 2010- 2011; Á. Huerga, “El Beato Posadas”, en Escalaceli (1981), págs. 277-410.
Álvaro Huerga Teruelo, OP
SOURCE : https://dbe.rah.es/biografias/26927/beato-francisco-de-posadas
Beato Francisco de Posadas, 20
de septiembre
Continuador de la gran
escuela mística del siglo XVI
SEPTIEMBRE 19, 2018 20:02ISABEL ORELLANA VILCHESTESTIMONIOS
«Comparado por su virtud por grandes santos de la talla de Francisco de Asís, Francisco de Paula, Francisco de Sales, Francisco Javier y Francisco de Regis. Considerado continuador de la gran escuela mística del siglo XVI»
Grande tuvo que ser su virtud para equipararlo con memorables santos, cuyos rasgos característicos se han apreciado también en este beato: «la pobreza de san Francisco de Asís, la austeridad y poder taumatúrgico de san Francisco de Paula, la dulzura y sabiduría de san Francisco de Sales, el celo por la fe de san Francisco de Regis, la obediencia y temple de san Francisco Javier». No tuvo una vida fácil. Nació en Córdoba, España, el 25 de noviembre de 1644 cuando ya sus padres Esteban y María, de origen gallego y con ilustres antepasados, habían quedado en la ruina. Otros negocios o fracasaron o fueron mal. Así que un ápice de luz llegó al hogar con su nacimiento, único del matrimonio, atribuido a la intervención de la Virgen de la Fuensanta. Y a Ella se lo ofreció su madre en cumplimiento de la promesa que hizo si lograba tener descendencia. Cursó los primeros estudios en la escuela regida por Diego de Villalobos.
Al perder a su marido cuando Francisco tenía 5 años, María contrajo nuevas nupcias para desgracia del pequeño que sufrió el autoritarismo y severidad de este nuevo cabeza de familia. Le impidió cursar estudios con los jesuitas y le obligó a emprender un camino que cada vez era más arduo. Fue aprendiz de cordonero y tuvo por maestro a otra buena pieza del estilo de su padrastro; le maltrató durante cuatro años. Cuando se propuso ingresar en la vida religiosa contraviniendo la voluntad del marido de su madre, en el horizonte surgieron nuevos contratiempos. Porque, aunque fray Miguel de Villalón lo acogió en San Pablo a sus 16 años, y se ocupó de enseñarle latín, ante los ojos de la sociedad no dejaba de ser un pobre muchacho: el hijo de una humilde vendedora de hortalizas en la plaza del Salvador a la que se miraba por encima del hombro.
Tras la muerte de su padrastro, Francisco tuvo que volver a casa. Su madre se dedicó a la venta de huevos por las calles cordobesas, lo cual constituyó un veto mayor si cabe para su ingreso en el convento de los dominicos, porque allí se reunía lo más granado de la sociedad, y un muchacho pobre como él –por mor de los prejuicios provincianos– no tenía cabida en ese lugar. Después de varias peripecias, fray Miguel logró que lo admitieran en el convento dominico de Scala Coeli, donde tomó el hábito. Este hecho exasperó notablemente al prior de San Pablo que dio orden para su expulsión, pero Francisco iba camino de Jaén. Al mediar por él los frailes de esta capital, el prior aceptó de mal grado que profesase, si bien indicó de forma taxativa que no podría volver a Córdoba; era el lugar donde tenía que formarse, pero al oponerse este superior lo enviaron a Sanlúcar.
Pronto su celo apostólico y virtudes comenzaron a dar sus frutos. Fue ordenado
en Guádix en 1668, y se granjeó el afecto y admiración de fieles, religiosos y
personas de alcurnia. Vuelto a Sanlúcar comenzó a predicar, destacando por su
humildad y caridad. Hablaba con tanta fuerza y de manera tan brillante que el
futuro vicario general de la Orden, Enrique de Guzmán, lo quiso a su lado. Pero
Francisco prefirió continuar con su misión. El nuevo prior de San Pablo, de
Córdoba, lo invitó a predicar allí y fue destinado al hospicio del convento
de Scala Coeli. Al entrar, una voz seráfica le advirtió: «Esta será
tu cruz».Enseguida fue calumniado y depuesto de la responsabilidad que le
encomendaron. Sin embargo, enfermó un religioso y le pidieron ayuda para
impartir las misiones en distintas localidades. Al regreso, el pecador
arrepentido le salió al encuentro rogando su perdón. Y Francisco volvió al
hospicio cordobés.
Durante treinta años confesó y predicó por calles y plazas enardeciendo a las
muchedumbres. Era bien conocido en las cárceles y en los hospitales. Iban a
escucharle obispos, cardenales, inquisidores… Entre ellos, a veces escudado en
la penumbra, le oía el prior que le negó la entrada en San Pablo. ¿Quién le
hubiera dicho a él y a otros muchos conciudadanos que siendo tan denostado por
el modesto oficio de su madre –aunque el brillo de sus antepasados jalonaba su
árbol genealógico– llegaría tan lejos? Francisco jamás renegó de sus orígenes
que, relegados al olvido entre la gente por su gran talla humana y espiritual,
solía recordar ahuyentando la tentación de sucumbir a tantos honores y glorias
mundanas que le ofrecían a cada paso. Solo aspiraba a la santidad, su gran y
único tesoro, por el que daba la vida y se entregaba a manos llenas. En sus
sermones recriminaba, entre otros deslices, la riqueza, injusticias de
gobernantes, y prepotencia de los ricos frente a los pobres, aunque también
arrasaba contra lo que juzgaba inmoral, como ligerezas en la moda y en los
espectáculos.
Este hombre de intensa oración y penitencia, devoto de María, que vivía volcado
en los demás, fue agraciado con diversos dones y carismas. Fundó el hospitalito
situado en la Puerta del Rincón para los desamparados y difundió la devoción al
rosario. En el lugar colocó una imagen de María que mandó esculpir, denominada
por los ciudadanos «la Niña del padre Posadas». Dos veces quisieron nombrarle
obispo, y en ambas ocasiones renunció. Autor de diversas obras y tratados
espirituales, se le ha considerado «continuador de la gran escuela mística del
siglo XVI». Cultivó la poesía y la biografía; escribió tres, una de ellas
dedicada al padre Cristóbal de Santa Catalina. Murió el 20 de septiembre de
1713. Pío VII lo beatificó el 20 de septiembre de 1818.
SEPTIEMBRE 19, 2018 20:02TESTIMONIOS
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Isabel Orellana Vilches
Isabel Orellana Vilches
Misionera idente. Doctora en Filosofía por la Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona
con la tesis Realismo y progreso científico en la epistemología popperiana. Ha
cursado estudios de teología en la Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca. Con
amplia actividad docente desde 1986, ha publicado libros como: Realismo y
progreso científico en la epistemología popperiana, Universitat Autònoma de
Barcelona, 1993; El evangelio habla a los jóvenes, Atenas, Madrid, 1997; Qué
es... LA TOLERANCIA, Paulinas, Madrid, 1999; Pedagogía del dolor. Ensayo
antropológico, Palabra, Madrid, 1999; En colaboración con Enrique Rivera de
Ventosa (†) OFM. Cap. San Francisco de Asís y Fernando Rielo: Convergencias.
Respuestas desde la fe a los interrogantes del hombre de hoy, Universidad
Pontificia, Salamanca, 2001; La "mirada" del cine. Recursos
didácticos del séptimo arte. Librería Cervantes, Salamanca, 2001; Paradojas de
la convivencia, San Pablo, Madrid, 2002; En la Universidad Técnica Particular
de Loja, Ecuador, ha publicado: La confianza. El arte de amar, 2002; Educar
para la responsabilidad, 2003; Apuntes de ética en Karl R. Popper, 2003; De
soledades y comunicación, 2005; Yo educo; tú respondes, 2008; Humanismo y fe en
un crisol de culturas, 2008; Repensar lo cotidiano, 2008; Convivir: un
constante desafío, 2009; La lógica del amor, 2010; El dolor del amor. Apuntes
sobre la enfermedad y el dolor en relación con la virtud heroica, el martirio y
la vida santa. Seminario Diocesano de Málaga, 2006 y Universidad Técnica
Particular de Loja, Ecuador (2007). Cuenta con numerosas colaboraciones en
obras colectivas, así como relatos, cuentos, fábula y novela juvenil, además de
artículos de temática científica, pedagógica y espiritual, que viene publicando
en distintas revistas nacionales e internacionales. En 2012 culminó el santoral
Llamados a ser santos y poco más tarde Epopeyas de amor prologado por mons.
Fernando Sebastián. Es la biógrafa oficial del fundador de su familia
espiritual, autora de Fernando Rielo Pardal. Fundador de los Misioneros
Identes, Desclée de Brouwer, Bilbao, 2009. Culmina la biografía completa. Tiene
a su cargo el santoral de ZENIT desde noviembre de 2012.
SOURCE : https://es.zenit.org/2018/09/19/beato-francisco-de-posadas-20-de-septiembre-5/
22 de septiembre, Beato
Francisco de Posadas, op
El P. Francisco de
Posadas, beatificado el 20 de septiembre de 1818, es una figura especialmente
vinculado a nuestra comunidad. Cordobés de nacimiento, ingresó a la Orden dominicana
y profesó como hijo del convento de Santo Domingo de Scala Coeli. Había nacido
junto al convento de San Pablo, también dominicano, el 25 de noviembre de 1644.
Fallece en la ciudad de la que tantas veces salió para predicar, el 20 de septiembre
de 1713. Su cuerpo se venera en la iglesia de San Pablo, nuestro antiguo
convento, en Córdoba.
Del P.Posadas se ha dicho
que tenía la pobreza de San Francisco de Asís, la austeridad y poder
taumatúrgico de San Francisco de Paula, la dulzura y sabiduría de San Francisco
de Sales, el celo por la fe de San Francisco de Regis, la obediencia y temple
de San Francisco Javier.
Fray Francisco de Posadas
es un personaje relativamente moderno: dejó esta vida cuando el siglo XVIII iba
a cumplir tres lustros. Su biografía es simple, casi esquemática, aunque
colmada de peripecias vocacionales y éxitos apostólicos. Por fortuna, su mismo
confesor, el padre maestro fray Pedro de Alcalá, más tarde provincial de los
dominicos de Andalucía, escribió al detalle la vida y milagros del nuevo
"San Vicente Ferrer" —como le llamaba la gente— en un libro de tomo,
lomo y más de 800 páginas; ésa es la fuente auténtica y gozosa de todos los
biógrafos posteriores. Y en ella se ha inspirado directamente la semblanza que
aquí pergeñamos.
Oriundos de Galicia,
estirpe hidalga de sangre y de casa solariega con renombre —capitanes (un
bisabuelo suyo conquistó Cheves y Monforte, rindiendo a fuerza de coraje las
dos villas lusas), canónigos e inquisidores, eran honra y prez de la familia—,
Esteban Martín Losada y María Fernández-Pardo y Posadas, tuvieron una luna de
miel amarga: los vasallos de Juan de Braganza arrasaron Lama de Arcos y, como
desquite, cebaron el deseo de venganza contra viejas derrotas en la casa
infanzona del joven matrimonio, que huyó, en busca de clima y economía más
propicios, a Córdoba. Allí montaron una tienda de panadería. Ni les fue bien en
el negocio ni en el matrimonio; aquél se arruinó; éste vio malograrse
reiteradamente las esperanzas de sucesión. Don Esteban Martín abre una nueva
tienda de naranjas y limones y especiería en la plaza del Salvador, en una casa
contigua a la puerta principal del convento de San Pablo, según se sale a mano
derecha; María Fernández-Pardo y Posadas acude a la Virgen de la
Fuensanta implorando fecundidad y ofreciendo de antemano el primer fruto
de sus entrañas a la celestial Señora. Y el día 25 de noviembre de 1644 nace,
en la casatienda, un niño a quien, el 4 de diciembre, en la parroquial de San
Andrés, pusieron por nombre Francisco.
Cinco años más tarde,
otra vez la desgracia vino a rondar el humilde hogar. Falleció don Esteban
Martín Losada. Francisco saboreó el pan de la temprana orfandad. La pobreza
había obscurecido totalmente el esplendor de la sangre hidalga; pero empezaba a
florecer, en la tierra árida de la miseria, la hidalguía de la gracia. Madre e
hijo forman un bloque natural y sobrenaturalmente irrompible; ella, fiel al
voto; él, piadoso, bien dispuesto siempre a la obediencia y al amor. La viuda
casó en segundas nupcias con Juan Pérez Cerezo; fue un padrastro con Francisco.
No consintió que el niño fuese al colegio de la Compañía de Jesús;
era un gran sacrificio, y el egoísmo del nuevo jefe de familia triunfó sobre el
ideal —sangre y promesa— de la madre; cuatro años de oficial aprendiz de
cordonero pasó el joven en un taller sito en las Casillas, en el campo de San
Antón; cuatro años de galeras bajo el rigor de un hombre de "indigesta
condición" que más parecía un cómitre que un maestro artesano. Francisco
aprendió lo que es ganar el pan con el sudor de la frente y del alma. Impávido
y fervoroso aguantó el rudo noviciado de la vida pobre, acrisolándosele el
espíritu. Su madre seguía soñando. El maestro o cómitre se convenció que el
camino vocacional del aprendiz no iba por allí; era un hombre de Dios. Lo había
demostrado hasta el heroísmo. Pero el padrastro no cede. Dios vino en ayuda de
la madre y del hijo. El padre maestro fray Miguel de Villalón le buscó acomodo
en San Pablo y le dio clases de latín. El "hijo de la vendedera", con
dieciséis años al hombro, empezó a rumiar declinaciones y conjugaciones,
En este tiempo muere el
padrastro, fracasa la tienda y Francisco retorna al hogar. La madre se dedica a
recovera, es decir, a revender huevos por las calles; sacar el hijo adelante,
ofrecérselo a la Virgen. No piensa en otra cosa. Francisco siente
también la ineludible llamada de la gracia. Pide el hábito; pero el convento
dominicano de San Pablo de Córdoba es nido de águilas, fragua de sabios y
crisol de sangre. La flor y nata de las familias cordobesas se glorían de tener
allí hijos que son ya obispos o maestros en teología. Los estatutos de limpieza
de sangre y el orgullo aristocrático velan por la ejecutoria del convento. No
le faltaban a Francisco nobleza de sangre y nobleza de alma, pero era notoria
su calidad de hijo de la "vendedera". Estaban cerradas las puertas de
San Pablo para él; la madre apuró el contratiempo; buscó otro monasterio y fue
admitido. Estaba todo a punto para la toma de hábito; Francisco acudió a despedirse
de la Virgen del Rosario, en su capilla de San Pablo, como quien se
ve obligado a decir adiós a una Madre celestial; rompió en llanto y regresó al
lado de la madre terrena que le había preparado ya el modesto hatillo para su
nueva vida. Francisco estaba inconsolable; a pesar de todo, quería ser
"fraile de la Virgen". El protector, padre Villalón, lo envió a
Escalaceli, extramuros de la ciudad, convento dominicano pobre, donde San
Alvaro de Córdoba empezó la reforma de la Orden a raíz de la
Claustra, donde se santificó y escribió fray Luis de Granada; Escalaceli era
una cuna de santos, mientras San Pablo era forja de sabios. Para Dios no hay
racismos; fray Andrés Mellado, prior a la sazón, lo recibió de buen grado. Y el
23 de noviembre de 1672 le dio el hábito. Se enfureció el prior de San Pablo;
ya era tarde: el novicio había salido muy de madrugada hacia Jaén, donde haría
el noviciado. En el ínterin vacó el provincialato y el cargo recayó, por
derecho, en el prior de San Pablo; dio órdenes de expulsión del novicio, pero
los frailes de Jaén se opusieron con razones y con ruegos. Por prudencia tuvo
que acceder a que el novicio profesase, pero le prohibió que, de regreso a
Escalaceli, entrase en Córdoba, ni siquiera a dar un abrazo a su madre,
"Ia vendedora"...
El nuevo provincial lo
destinó a San Pablo para hacer los cursos de artes, filosofía y teología. Ante
la oposición del padre prior, enconado enemigo de fray Francisco, optó por
enviarlo a Sanlúcar de Barrameda. Allí se granjeó una no común estima por su
talento y virtud. El padre Tirso González, andando el tiempo prepósito general
de la Compañía de Jesús, conoció y admiró al joven dominico, cuando
aquél estuvo en Sanlúcar predicando. Fray Francisco era su más entusiasta
oyente, Por fin, a finales de 1678, se fue a Guadix; el obispo, fray Diego de
Silva y Pacheco, le ordenó de sacerdote el 22 de diciembre. Pocos días después
cantó su primera misa en el altar de la Virgen de la Fuensanta,
apadrinado por el padre Villalón y don Andrés Fernández de Córdoba, señor de
Zuheros.
Retornó a Sanlúcar y
empezó a predicar, Santidad y sabiduría brillaban en el joven predicador tanto
que el padre Enrique de Guzmán, nombrado regente de la Minerva de
Roma y luego vicario general de la Orden, quiso llevárselo consigo. No
accedió al honor; era impiedad dejar para siempre a su anciana y bendita madre;
era infidelidad a la vocación buscar cátedra en lugar de púlpito. La fama
pregonaba maravillas de sus sermones; el prior de San Pablo, que no era ya el
que le persiguió con tan malévola constancia, le invitó a predicar en la
iglesia del convento; pero los aristócratas maestros en teología amenazaron con
quemar el púlpito si ponía en él los pies el hijo de la "vendedora".
Pero la gracia acabó por vencer al pecado; la humildad, a la obstinación. El
padre Posadas fue destinado al hospicio u hospedería. que en Córdoba tenía el
convento de Escalaceli; un ángel lo recibió al llegar, diciéndole: "Esta
será tu cruz". Se dedicó a predicar con gran fruto. Una calumnia fue motivo
para que le quitasen de allí y lo mandasen reintegrarse al convento de la
sierra; falló, por grave enfermedad, un maestro de San Pablo encargado de dar
unas misiones cuaresmales en Almadén y Chillón; el padre Posadas lo reemplazó
en última instancia, pero con ventaja. Al regresar, el calumniador estaba
arrepentido. Y el prior de Escalaceli pidió perdón al padre Posadas y volvió a
encomendarle el hospicio, que en adelante será conocido con el nombre de
"Hospitalico del padre Posadas".
Y aquí empieza la
"vida pública", la vida del profeta en su patria, la vida del milagro
y del sacrificio total. La hora de la acción apostólica. El mensaje misionero y
espiritual del padre Posadas tiene dos facetas entrelazadas por un fin común:
la del predicador y la del escritor.
1. Predicador. Predicaba
en las iglesias, en las calles y en las plazas. En plan de misionero
infatigable. Cantaba el pueblo con él coplas devotas; recitaban la doctrina
cristiana; rezaban en alta voz el rosario. Un crucifijo presidía siempre la
procesión. Entraba en las cárceles, en los monasterios. "Poníase sobre una
pequeña mesa, donde la piedad del que pasa a vista de la cárcel pone la limosna
a los presos, y como no podía sobresalir para dominar a tanto auditorio,
sacaron el púlpito de la inmediata iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Socorro";
oíanle muchedumbres; también los maestros en teología, incluso el anciano prior
que tanto le persiguió, se había rendido, y no faltaba nunca a sus sermones,
mezclándose entre la gente; "aseguraban muchos el lugar desde por la
mañana... sin cuidar del alimento del cuerpo"; inquisidores, obispos y
cardenales lo escuchaban atónitos lo mismo que las masas enfervorizadas.
Treinta años pasó predicando en Córdoba, salvo algunas temporadas breves en que
misionaba por la provincia. Realmente, era un caso excepcional, extraordinario.
Nadie se acordaba ya de su humilde origen; él, sí; lo repetía con exquisita
humildad para acallar los elogios, para ahuyentar la tentación de los honores:
prioratos y mitras, ambición de tantos humanos, fueron quedándose a sus pies.
Renunciaba a todo lo que no fuese humildad: santidad. Ningún predicador había
arrastrado las muchedumbres así desde tiempos de San Vicente Ferrer. Como
ejemplo de la eficacia de su predicación, hay uno muy significativo: se empeñó
en desterrar las comedias y cerrar el teatro y lo consiguió. Como es lógico,
era una tarea difícil. Pero ahí está, después de una lucha de resistencias y
tiras y aflojas, el decreto del ayuntamiento de Córdoba que decide suprimir y
demoler el teatro público a 11 de octubre de 1694. Córdoba vio y vivió los
mejores tiempos de su cristianismo con el padre Posadas.
El 20 de septiembre de
1713 celebró misa muy tempranico; se sentó luego en el confesonario; se
despidió de sus confesandos; a las diez treinta se retiró diciendo adiós a
todos; a las once treinta le dio un ataque de apoplejía, que muchos
confundieron con uno de sus frecuentes raptos; a las siete treinta de la tarde
expiró. Tenía sesenta y nueve años; lo trasladaron aquella misma noche al
convento de San Pablo; no lo habían querido recibir vivo y lo recibieron —y con
grandes honores—muerto. Repicaron todas las campanas de la ciudad; el pueblo
acudió en masa a venerarlo y se retrasó dos días el entierro; el Ayuntamiento
le costeó una lujosa sepultura en el capítulo, revestida de seda, teniendo que
sacar los restos de los dos padres maestros que más le habían perseguido para
depositar en su lugar los restos mortales del padre Posadas; sobre su tumba se
grabó un epitafio historiado.
Sobre su tumba siguen los
cordobeses desgranando súplicas y lágrimas. Y el padre Posadas los escucha con
la bondad de siempre. Desde el cielo.
2. Escritor. El padre
Posadas, extraordinario representante de la oratoria sagrada española en los
últimos tiempos, fue también un gran maestro y escritor espiritual. Su
biógrafo, padre Alcalá, se admiraba cómo podía tener tiempo para escribir un
hombre que pasaba todo el día predicando, confesando y orando. Pero ahí están
sus obras, que revelan un digno continuador de la gran escuela mística del
siglo XVI. Cultivó el género biográfico, dejándonos tres biografías: una de
Santo Domingo, muy alabada y reeditada; y otra del extremeño padre Cristóbal de
Santa Catalina, presbítero y fundador del Hospital de Jesús Nazareno, dirigido
espiritual suyo; y una tercera de la madre Leonor María de Cristo, monja
dominica de Santa María de los Angeles, de Jaén; cultivó, además, el género
didáctico, escribiendo un bello libro contra Molinos, el maestro espiritual
condenado; también ensayó el género poético en más de una ocasión, aunque sin
insistencia; sólo algunos versos suyos vieron la luz, quedando inéditos otros
muchos, como el que empieza:
En las aras
de mi amor
peno y gozo
a un mismo tiempo...
Pero, sobre todo,
escribió muchos tratados espirituales en forma de sermones; cinco tomos de
estos escritos publicó su confesor con el título de Obras póstumas.
"Crióle Dios
naturalmente retórico." El alcance de este juicio, hecho por quien lo
trató tantos años, puede descentrarse si se prescinde de la época en que actúa,
de la constante dedicación a la predicación y de las dotes psicofísicas de que
estaba adornado. Cuerpo robusto, carácter sanguíneo, incendiado en el amor de
Dios y de la Virgen, incendiador de almas. Su estilo literario es barroco,
viril, vital; pese a las metáforas —siempre apropiadas, rebuscadas en las
fuentes bíblicas las más de las veces, finas a lo Góngora siempre—, su estilo
logra un contacto directo con la realidad cotidiana; es plástico, como conviene
a un misionero; florido, para rendir tributo al gusto del tiempo; docto, como
convenía a un ingenio doblemente feliz: por don de naturaleza y del arte. En el
Llanto de las virtudes —sus tratados llevan siempre epígrafes metafóricos:
Silbos, Ladridos, Voces, La mano que abre la puerta del cielo, La mejor Rosa de
Jericó, Místicas espigas de la mejor Ruth, Las casas del olvido, Horas de un
reloj cristiano que despierta al alma del pecador dormido, Caminos para la
conversión del alma, Devoto peregrino del cielo, Colirio, El sueño de la culpa,
Las tradiciones del Alcorán del mundo, etcétera— finge que encuentra "unas
doncellas ricamente vestidas y con honestidad adornadas": "Estaba la
una hincada de rodillas, el semblante devoto, y los ojos en el cielo; la otra
tenía un compás en la mano, con que parece que medía o ajustaba; otra
sustentaba un peso, con que repartía las cosas que pesaba a los circunstantes;
otra estaba de pie en una columna, sin ladearse..." A todas les va
preguntando por los motivos de su llanto; y ellas responden que son las
virtudes y que los motivos del llanto puede preguntárselos al profeta
Jeremías... El diálogo, cabalgando en la metáfora, es encantador; los sermones
sobre el pozo y la fuente de Samaria rezuman una frescura y un gracejo
humanísimos, pero al mismo tiempo revelar ansias espirituales de la mejor ley.
Análogos ejemplos nos ofrecen los Silbos o llamadas de Cristo a las ovejas, o
la descripción de "las tradiciones" del Alcorán del mundo, donde
analiza los principios o decires falsos por los que se rigen los hombres.
Escritor espiritual de
talla, amén de predicador infatigable, docto y digno, enamorado de la
Virgen, el padre Posadas dejó tras sí una estela de luz y de verdad que no se
eclipsan.
(Biografía tomada
de catholic.net)
SOURCE : https://scalacoeliop.blogspot.com/2012/09/22-de-septiembre-beato-francisco-de.html
BEATO FRANCISCO DE
POSADAS
1713 d.C.
20 de septiembre
Nació en
Córdoba en el seno de una familia muy pobre. Pronto se quedó huérfano de padre,
y su padrastro le trató muy mal. Fue aprendiz de cordonero y recibió un mal
trato. Muerto su padrastro fue vendedor de verduras. Decidió hacerse dominico y
fue rechazado en el convento de San Pablo, pero ingresó en el convento dominico
de Scala Coeli o Escalaceli en Córdoba. Una vez realizado los votos fue enviado
como estudiante al convento de Sanlúcar de Barrameda, donde destacó por sus
cualidades y completó satisfactoriamente sus estudios.
Fue ordenado sacerdote en Guadix en 1678, y volvió a Sanlúcar,
donde se dedicó a la predicación y al confesionario y fue estimado por la
población. Se le propuso ampliar sus estudios en Roma y optar por una cátedra,
pero Francisco prefirió el púlpito y la pastoral directa. Vuelto a Scala Coeli
se distinguió por ser un predicador de gran fuerza persuasiva, que ejerció su
apostolado en Andalucía durante 40 años. Fue conocido por su caridad y
humildad. Dejó muchos escritos de carácter biográfico e histórico, además de
algunos trabajos espirituales para la edificación de los fieles. El rey Carlos
II le propuso dos veces para el episcopado y Francisco siempre lo rechazó.
Murió repentinamente de apoplegía. Está sepultado en el convento de San Pablo
de Córdoba, que un día lo rechazó. Fue beatificado en 1818 por el Papa Pío VII.
(Parroquia San Martín de
Porres)
SOURCE : http://www.parroquiasanmartin.com/franciscodeposadas.html
Beato
Francisco de Posadas, Dominicano
Seus pais eram pobres e
ganhavam a vida vendendo flores, legumes e frutos. Moravam a princípio em Lama
de Arcos, em Castela; depois, estabeleceram-se em Córdova. Malgrado a humildade
da sua condição, provinham de estirpe nobre, circunstâncias que, aliadas às
virtudes por eles praticadas, faziam-nos merecedores de consideração.
Francisco nasceu em Córdova, no dia 25 de novembro de 1644. Seus piedosos pais
preocuparam-se em inculcar-lhe profundos sentimentos religiosos.
Ensinaram-lhe muitas práticas de piedade, com as quais entretiveram seu
espírito desde a infância, e educaram-no na oração, no amor a Deus e ao
próximo. Inspiraram-lhe particularmente uma terna devoção à Santa Virgem. Desde
os mais verdes anos, habituou-se a recitar todos os dias o rosário. Muitas
vezes, outras crianças da mesma idade a ele se juntavam. Reuniam-se a
determinada hora e depois de terem recitado algumas orações, caminhavam em
procissão pelas ruas da cidade e pelas estradas adjacentes, cantando o rosário
e também hinos.
Francisco era a alma de todos esses exercícios piedosos e, desde então,
começava a salientar-se como um zeloso servo de Deus.
Sua mãe que, logo após ter Francisco nascido, o colocara sob a proteção da
Santa Virgem, alimentava o grande desejo de que ele pudesse entrar na Ordem de
São Domingos e mandou educá-lo da melhor maneira possível. Os progressos do
jovem Francisco no estudo, atenção que lhe mereciam os deveres religiosos,
correspondiam perfeitamente às intenções de seus pais. Desde a mais tenra idade
demonstrara o menino o desejo de pô-las em execução, tornando-se dominicano.
Daí por diante foi como se já tivesse renunciado ao mundo e se consagrado
inteiramente a Deus. Não tomava parte nos jogos e nos divertimentos infantis;
procurava a solidão e dedicava à prece e à meditação quase todo o tempo que não
dispendia no estudo. Frequentava os sacramentos com grande devoção e seu único
objetivo era vir a ser um digno membro da Ordem de São Domingos.
Durante muito tempo seus
desejos permaneceram irrealizados, Morreu-lhe o pai, e sua mãe tornou a
casar-se com um homem que se comportou com ele da pior maneira possível.
Obrigou-o a aprender o ofício, e confiou-o um mestre brutal, que o espancava
todos os dias, não obstante a sua assiduidade ao trabalho. Finalmente de tal
forma a brandura do virtuoso jovem conquistou o patrão, que este o auxiliou a
concluir os estudos. Tendo sua mãe enviuvado pela segunda vez, Francisco
cumpriu em relação a ela todos os deveres de um bom filho e prodigalizou-lhe os
mais ternos cuidados. Mais tarde, na velhice, Francisco atribuía as graças a
ele concedidas por Deus ao respeito que sua mãe sempre lhe merecera.
Enfim, chegou o tão almejado momento de consagrar-se a Deus. Em 1663 foi
admitido nos Dominicanos da Scale Coeli, convento situado a uma légua de
Córdoba, e, depois das provas habituais, pronunciou os votos solenes. A
princípio seus méritos não foram devidamente apreciados. Foi vítima de
perseguições e de calúnias, mas suportou-as com grande paciência; e havendo
sido o erro reconhecido, foi ordenado sacerdote em São Lucar de Barmeja. Em
seguida seus superiores designaram-no para o ministério da prédica. Seus
sermões, apoiados pela santidade de vida, produziram frutos incomensuráveis.
Multidões acorriam para ouvi-lo e tinha de pregar em praças públicas, pois as
igrejas eram insuficientes para contê-las. Bastava que sua voz ressoasse para
que o auditório ficasse penetrado de respeito; a força e o encanto das suas
palavras, as lágrimas que derramava, tocavam e convertiam as almas. Viram-no
algumas vezes com o rosto resplandecente, como são representados os serafins.
Levava nas suas missões uma vida mortificada, viajando sempre a pé, muitas
vezes descalço, sem provisões, e só tendo como leito um saco de palha, ou mesmo
a terra nua. Obtinha os mesmos resultados no tribunal da penitência; a unção
com que envolvia as palavras era quase irresistível. Guia sábio e esclarecido,
levava à perfeição as almas por ele dirigidas, afastando-as dos perigos do
mundo. Tinha horror aos espetáculos profanos e empenhava-se tenazmente para
dele desviar os fiéis. Seu prestígio sobre o espírito dos habitantes de Córdova
foi bastante forte para conseguir a demolição do teatro dessa cidade, que até
agora não foi reconstruído.
Nem as fadigas, nem as dificuldades logravam atenuar seu zelo pelo serviço de
Deus: nada, porém, ultrapassava seu amor pelos pobres e servia-se dos mais
engenhosos meios para proporcionar-lhes socorros temporais e espirituais. Suas
austeridades e seus jejuns surpreendiam. Os bispados de Alquer, na Sardenha, e
o de Cádiz foram-lhe oferecidos; recusou-os, pois desejava viver na humildade e
na obscuridade da profissão que abraçara. Após uma vida transcorrida em meio a
todas as práticas da perfeição religiosa, e no trabalho incessante de um santo
apostolado, morreu quase subitamente, ao sair para celebrar a missa, no dia 20
de setembro de 1713.
Publicara várias obras sobre questões de teologia e assuntos piedosos. As mais
notáveis são:
1. O triunfo da castidade sobre a luxúria diabólica de Molinos
2. Vida da Venerável
Madre Leonarda de Cristo, religiosa dominicana
3. Vida do Padre
Cristóvão de Santa Catarina, fundador do Asilo de Jesus de Nazaré
4. Vida de São Domingos
5. Conselhos à cidade de
Córdova
Durante os últimos anos de vida já era reverenciado como santo pelos habitantes
das províncias meridionais da Espanha. As diligências para a sua canonização
foram iniciadas logo após a sua morte e depois regularmente continuadas.
No dia 4 de agosto de 1804, o Papa Pio VII declarou que ele possuíra as
virtudes teologais em grau muito elevado. No dia 5 de maio de 1817, o mesmo
Pontífice proclamou dois milagres que haviam sido operados pela sua
intercessão; no dia 8 de setembro do mesmo ano, o Santo Padre anunciou que iriam
proceder à beatificação de Francisco. O decreto de beatificação foi promulgado
no dia 20 de setembro de 1818, e a festa foi celebrada em Roma com grande
solenidade.
(Vida dos Santos, Padre Rohrbacher, Volume XVI, p. 343 à 346)
SOURCE : https://www.arautos.org/capela-virtual/santodia/beato-francisco-de-posadas-dominicano-140221
Beato Francisco de
Posadas
En la segunda mitad del
siglo XVII y comienzos del XVIII la predicación del Beato Francisco de Posadas
llegó a toda Andalucía. Fraile humilde, austero y penitente, nos ofrece en la
Carta del Esposo este texto sobre la oración:
“La oración es comida que
sustenta, conversación que regala, trato que entretiene y sueño dulce donde el
alma descansa. ¿Pues cómo no la tenéis? ¿Cuál estáis sin oración? Díganlo
vuestras obras que salen disparatadas como las del que no come ni duerme...
Dice el Señor: ¿Cómo os
trato Yo en la oración? ¿Acaso no os oigo? ¿No os regalo? ¿No os enternezco?
¿No os perdono?... ¿No inflamo vuestras voluntades? ¿No regalo vuestras
memorias? ¿No endulzo vuestras almas? ¿No purifico vuestras conciencias?... Pues,
¿por qué no me tratáis?... Ea, venid y tratadme, que soy como las flores, que
cuanto más se tratan y manosean os sueltan mayor fragancia.
Si queréis sentir mis
olores, venid y tratadme, no me dejéis de la mano, y veréis cómo camináis al
olor de mis fragancias, como lo hacen las esposas...
Orad, que si sois malos,
Yo os haré buenos; si tibios, os pondré fervorosos; si imperfectos, hallaréis
la perfección...Orad, orad y conoceréis lo que soy para vosotros”.
SOURCE : https://www.dominicos.org/espiritualidad/dominicana/testimonios/beato-francisco-de-posadas/
