Francesc Xavier Butinyà i Hospital
Encyclopedia
Francesc Xavier Butinyà i Hospital (Banyoles
, April 16, 1834 – Tarragona
, December 18, 1899) was a Catalan
missionary
Jesuit
, teacher
and writer
and the founder of two religious congregations of Sisters. He was the son of a prosperous factory owner. Nevertheless, at the height of the Industrial Revolution
in Spain, he was an early proponent of the natural connection of the Christian faith with the working class
, who were suffering in miserable working and living conditions.
On January 10, 1874 he founded the religious congregation of the Servants of St. Joseph in Salamanca
, Spain
, together with Saint Bonifacia Rodríguez y Castro
. She was from a very poor background and had lived supporting herself as a ropemaker, when she met him. The congregation they founded was to live in the same manner as Jesus and St. Joseph, in their home in Nazareth
, while simultaneously helping their neighbors, especially women, realize the realities of their lives in the light of the Gospel
, that they might be free and critical members of their society.
In April of that same year, as a result of the anti-clerical decrees of the First Spanish Republic
, he was expelled from Spain along with the entire Society of Jesus
, of which he was a member. He continued to support the community in Salamanca through correspondence. After the fall of the Republic at the end of the year and the re-establishment of the Spanish monarchy
, he was able to return. At that time, he settled in his native region of Catalonia
.
He continued his preaching of his vision of a proletariat
Catholicism, even though the hierarchy
of the Roman Catholic Church
sought to re-establish its position as a bulwark of stability as it had been for centuries past. He remained in correspondence with Mother Bonifacia during this time, urging her to come to Catalonia to establish communities of the Servants of St. Joseph there. This she was unable to do at the time, partly due to the still unsettled times.
As a consequence, in February 1875 Butinyà founded several houses of Religious Sisters himself in that region. He continued to urge Rodríguez to come and establish a formal connection of these communities with the original community in Salamanca which she headed. The Reverend Mother
finally set out for Catalonia in 1882 for this purpose. During a stay in Zaragoza to consult with Butinyà, while on her way back to Salamanca, Mother Bonifacia received a letter from the community in Salamanca, which was signed by a member there who called herself the Religious Superior
of the community. Subsequent efforts at reconciliation with that community proved fruitless, and Rodríguez had to start over in another city.
As another result of this chain of events, the communities Butinyà had founded in Catalonia decided not to proceed with any union with the Castilian
communities. They formed themselves into a new congregation, the Daughters of St. Joseph in 1885.
On the 15th of November 2006, at the joint petition of the two Religious Congregations of Sisters he had founded, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints
in Rome accepted the request to start the process of Fr. Butinyà's canonization
.
Banyoles
Banyoles is a city of 17,309 inhabitants located in the province of Girona in northeastern Catalonia, Spain.The town is the capital of the Catalan comarca "Pla de l'Estany"...
, April 16, 1834 – Tarragona
Tarragona
Tarragona is a city located in the south of Catalonia on the north-east of Spain, by the Mediterranean. It is the capital of the Spanish province of the same name and the capital of the Catalan comarca Tarragonès. In the medieval and modern times it was the capital of the Vegueria of Tarragona...
, December 18, 1899) was a Catalan
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
Jesuit
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
, teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and the founder of two religious congregations of Sisters. He was the son of a prosperous factory owner. Nevertheless, at the height of the Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
in Spain, he was an early proponent of the natural connection of the Christian faith with the working class
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
, who were suffering in miserable working and living conditions.
On January 10, 1874 he founded the religious congregation of the Servants of St. Joseph in Salamanca
Salamanca
Salamanca is a city in western Spain, in the community of Castile and León. Because it is known for its beautiful buildings and urban environment, the Old City was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. It is the most important university city in Spain and is known for its contributions to...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, together with Saint Bonifacia Rodríguez y Castro
Bonifacia Rodríguez y Castro
Saint Bonifacia Rodríguez y Castro, S.S.J., was the co-foundress of the Religious Congregation of the Servants of St. Joseph and the "Nazareth workshop" to help the poor and unemployed women...
. She was from a very poor background and had lived supporting herself as a ropemaker, when she met him. The congregation they founded was to live in the same manner as Jesus and St. Joseph, in their home in Nazareth
Nazareth
Nazareth is the largest city in the North District of Israel. Known as "the Arab capital of Israel," the population is made up predominantly of Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel...
, while simultaneously helping their neighbors, especially women, realize the realities of their lives in the light of the Gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
, that they might be free and critical members of their society.
In April of that same year, as a result of the anti-clerical decrees of the First Spanish Republic
First Spanish Republic
The First Spanish Republic was the political regime that existed in Spain between the parliamentary proclamation on 11 February 1873 and 29 December 1874 when General Arsenio Martínez-Campos's pronunciamento marked the beginning of the Bourbon Restoration in Spain...
, he was expelled from Spain along with the entire Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
, of which he was a member. He continued to support the community in Salamanca through correspondence. After the fall of the Republic at the end of the year and the re-establishment of the Spanish monarchy
Spanish monarchy
The Monarchy of Spain, constitutionally referred to as The Crown and commonly referred to as the Spanish monarchy or Hispanic Monarchy, is a constitutional institution and an historic office of Spain...
, he was able to return. At that time, he settled in his native region of Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
.
He continued his preaching of his vision of a proletariat
Proletariat
The proletariat is a term used to identify a lower social class, usually the working class; a member of such a class is proletarian...
Catholicism, even though the hierarchy
Hierarchy
A hierarchy is an arrangement of items in which the items are represented as being "above," "below," or "at the same level as" one another...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
sought to re-establish its position as a bulwark of stability as it had been for centuries past. He remained in correspondence with Mother Bonifacia during this time, urging her to come to Catalonia to establish communities of the Servants of St. Joseph there. This she was unable to do at the time, partly due to the still unsettled times.
As a consequence, in February 1875 Butinyà founded several houses of Religious Sisters himself in that region. He continued to urge Rodríguez to come and establish a formal connection of these communities with the original community in Salamanca which she headed. The Reverend Mother
Reverend Mother
Reverend Mother may refer to:* Reverend Mother, in Roman Catholic, Anglican and Episcopal usage, the customary title or salutation for the Abbess or female leader of a religious institution such as a convent or abbey, and for certain other officials of religious orders of women * Reverend Mother ,...
finally set out for Catalonia in 1882 for this purpose. During a stay in Zaragoza to consult with Butinyà, while on her way back to Salamanca, Mother Bonifacia received a letter from the community in Salamanca, which was signed by a member there who called herself the Religious Superior
Superior (hierarchy)
In a hierarchy or tree structure of any kind, a superior is an individual or position at a higher level in the hierarchy than another , and thus closer to the apex. It is often used in business terminology to refer to people who are supervisors and in the military to people who are higher in the...
of the community. Subsequent efforts at reconciliation with that community proved fruitless, and Rodríguez had to start over in another city.
As another result of this chain of events, the communities Butinyà had founded in Catalonia decided not to proceed with any union with the Castilian
Castilian
Castilian may refer to:* Alternative name for the Spanish language .* Something related to the Crown of Castile, a former state in present-day Spain...
communities. They formed themselves into a new congregation, the Daughters of St. Joseph in 1885.
On the 15th of November 2006, at the joint petition of the two Religious Congregations of Sisters he had founded, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints
Congregation for the Causes of Saints
The Congregation for the Causes of Saints is the congregation of the Roman Curia which oversees the complex process that leads to the canonization of saints, passing through the steps of a declaration of "heroic virtues" and beatification...
in Rome accepted the request to start the process of Fr. Butinyà's canonization
Canonization
Canonization is the act by which a Christian church declares a deceased person to be a saint, upon which declaration the person is included in the canon, or list, of recognized saints. Originally, individuals were recognized as saints without any formal process...
.
Published works
- Un tractat de mecànica. Observacions meteorològiques. Butlletí mensual Observatori de l’Havana (1860)
- La Venjança del Martre: Peça de Sant Martirià (1996) Introducció i notes Júlia Butinyà. Centre d’Estudis Comarcals de Banyoles (1871)
- Les Migdiades del mes de Maig (1871)
- La Devota Artesana (1878)
- Un granet de mostassa (1879)
- Constitucions de les Serventes de Sant Josep (1881)
- Joia del cristià (1882)
- Algunes flors del jardí obrer (1895)
See also
- Servants of St. Joseph
- Filles de Sant Josep
- Bonifacia Rodriguez y CastroBonifacia Rodríguez y CastroSaint Bonifacia Rodríguez y Castro, S.S.J., was the co-foundress of the Religious Congregation of the Servants of St. Joseph and the "Nazareth workshop" to help the poor and unemployed women...
External Links
- Congregació Religioses Filles de Sant Josep http://www.hijasdesanjose.org/
- website of the Catalan Jesuits "Life of Francesc Xavier Butinyà" http://www.jesuites.net/arxiu_noticies/not00334.htm