Blessed Juan de Palafox y Mendoza
Bishop of Puebla, briefly viceroy of New Spain, later bishop of Osma
- Rank
- Blessed
- Kind
- Bishop
- Life
- 1600 – 1659
- Era
- 17th century
- Feast
- 1 October
- Countries
- Spain, Mexico
Life story
Juan de Palafox y Mendoza was born on 24 June 1600 at Fitero in Navarre, Spain, and was ordained a priest in April 1629. On 3 October 1639 he was appointed bishop of Puebla de los Ángeles (Tlaxcala) in Mexico and was consecrated on 27 December 1639. He reached Mexico in 1640 and was installed in Puebla on 28 June 1640. From 10 June to 23 November 1642 he served as viceroy of New Spain, for about five months.
In 1646 he donated his library of some 5,000 volumes to the College of San Juan, the basis of the Palafoxiana Library, now regarded as the oldest public library in the Americas. He pushed on the building of Puebla cathedral, which was dedicated on 18 April 1649. He also had a long dispute with the Jesuits over episcopal authority, which began when they refused to show him their licences to preach and hear confessions, and which also concerned tithes. In 1649 he returned to Spain.
On 16 August 1653 he was chosen bishop of Osma, and he died there on 1 October 1659. On 5 June 2011 Cardinal Angelo Amato presided over his beatification in the cathedral of Burgo de Osma.
Works and witness
- Bishop of Puebla de los Ángeles from 1639
- Viceroy of New Spain for about five months, June to November 1642
- Donated 5,000 books that formed the Palafoxiana Library (1646)
- Disputed episcopal authority with the Jesuits and returned to Spain in 1649
- Bishop of Osma from 1653; died 1 October 1659; beatified in 2011
Saints from the same country
References
- Catholic-Hierarchy, “Bishop Bl. Juan de Palafox y Mendoza” (catholic-hierarchy.org) – born 24 June 1600 at Fitero, ordained April 1629, appointed 3 October 1639, consecrated 27 December 1639, installed 28 June 1640, Osma 16 August 1653, died 1 October 1659, beatified 5 June 2011
- Aleteia, “Blessed Juan de Palafox, founder of oldest public library in the Americas” and the Scielo article cited with it – viceroy 10 June to 23 November 1642, library of 5,000 volumes in 1646, Jesuit dispute, return to Spain in 1649 (seen via search excerpts)
- Catholic.net (Spanish), 'Juan de Palafox y Mendoza, Beato' – cathedral consecration 18 April 1649 (taken from the earlier draft; not independently re-checked)
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.