Saint Miguel Febres Cordero

Life story

Francisco Luis Febres-Cordero y Muñoz was born on 7 November 1854 in Cuenca, Ecuador, into a family prominent in Ecuadorian politics. He was born with a disability in his legs, and he had to overcome his family's opposition before he could become a religious brother. On 24 March 1868 he entered the novitiate of the Brothers of the Christian Schools and took the name Miguel; he was the first Ecuadorian received into the Institute.

He was a gifted teacher and student. Before turning twenty he published a Spanish grammar that became a standard text, and his work in literature and linguistics earned him membership in the national academies of Ecuador and Spain. He gave priority to teaching, especially religion classes and the preparation of children for first communion.

In 1907 he travelled through New York to Belgium to translate texts into Spanish for Brothers exiled from France, and he was then moved to the junior novitiate at Premià de Mar in Spain. During the revolutionary outbreak of 1909 he supervised the evacuation of his students to Barcelona. He contracted pneumonia shortly after the students returned and died at Premià de Mar on 9 February 1910. Pope Paul VI beatified him on 30 October 1977, and Pope John Paul II canonized him on 21 October 1984.

Works and witness

• Joined the Brothers of the Christian Schools on 24 March 1868, the first Ecuadorian member
• Published a Spanish grammar before turning twenty
• Member of the national academies of Ecuador and Spain
• Died at Premià de Mar, Spain, on 9 February 1910
• Beatified in 1977 and canonized on 21 October 1984

Saints from the same country

Saint Narcisa de Jesús, Saint Mariana de Jesús de Paredes, Blessed Mercedes de Jesús Molina, Saint James the Greater

References

• La Salle, “Saint Miguel Febres Cordero” (lasalle.org/en/lasallian-holiness) – born 7 November 1854 at Cuenca, disability, novitiate 24 March 1868, first Ecuadorian, grammar before twenty, academies of Ecuador and Spain, 1907 Belgium, 1909 evacuation, death at Premià de Mar on 9 February 1910, beatification 1977, canonization 1984
• The earlier draft's vision-cure at five, seminary attempt, Quito teaching, Academy of Letters 1892, novice-master post and 1937 repatriation could not be verified and were removed

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.