Blessed Ceferino Namuncurá
A Mapuche chief's son who studied with the Salesians and died in Rome in 1905
- Rank
- Blessed
- Kind
- Young saint, Layperson
- Life
- 1886 – 1905
- Era
- 20th century
- Feast
- 26 August
- Countries
- Argentina, Italy
Life story
Ceferino was born on 26 August 1886 at Chimpay in Río Negro province, Argentina, the sixth child of Rosario Burgos and the Mapuche chief Manuel Namuncurá. He was baptised as a child by the Salesian missionary Domingo Milanesio.
His father hoped he would be useful to his people, serving as interpreter and secretary. After a short, unhappy apprenticeship in the naval workshops in Buenos Aires, he was sent to the Salesians on the advice of former president Luis Sáenz Peña. On 20 September 1897 he entered the technical school Colegio Pío IX at Almagro, Buenos Aires.
In 1904 he travelled to Italy with Bishop Giovanni Cagliero and was received by Pius X in September. He studied at Turin and at Villa Sora in Frascati, hoping to become a priest. His health was frail and worsened in the Italian winter; he died of pulmonary tuberculosis on 11 May 1905 in Rome, aged 18.
His remains were returned to Argentina in 1924 and placed at Fortín Mercedes. Pope Paul VI recognised his heroic virtue on 22 June 1972, and he was beatified on 11 November 2007 at Chimpay, with Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone presiding.
Works and witness
- Baptised as a child by a Salesian missionary
- Entered the Salesian technical school in Buenos Aires in 1897
- Travelled to Italy in 1904 and met Pius X
- Died of tuberculosis in Rome on 11 May 1905
- Beatified on 11 November 2007
Saints from the same country
References
- Decree on heroic virtue, Paul VI, 22 June 1972
- Beatification at Chimpay, 11 November 2007 (Holy See)
- Salesians of Don Bosco, biography of Ceferino Namuncurá
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.