Mamerto Esquiú
Encyclopedia
Mamerto de la Ascensión Esquiú, Venerable
Servant of God
(May 11, 1826 - March 10, 1883) was a historically significant Argentine
friar.
He was born in Piedra Blanca in Catamarca Province
to Esquiú and María de las Nieves Medina. His mother chose the name Mamerto de la Ascensión in homenage to Saint Mamerto due to his date of birth being Saint Mamero day, and Ascensión because Ascension day fell on that day in 1883.
He took his Franciscan
faith from his mother, and on May 31, 1836 he began training at the Catamarca Franciscan Convent in Catamarca
. He performed his first mass
on May 15, 1849.
He was fervently committed to education being a teacher and professor at the convent.
After the bloody civil war
of July 9, 1853 he preached his famous Sermon of the Constitution, where he prayed for the union of all Argentines. He became a noted as a patriot and religious figure for his oratory and sermons advocating Argentine unity and the 1853 constitution.
Mamerto Esquiú was consecrated Bishop
of Córdoba
on December 12, 1880 and took possession of its episcopal headquarters on January 16 the following year.
He died on January 10, 1883 in El Suncho, Catamarca, his mortal remains lie in Córdoba Cathedral. His incorrupt heart had remained in the Franciscan Convent in Catamarca
. In January 2008, his heart was stolen from the urn in which it was kept; this is the second time it was taken, as someone had previously absconded with it in 1990. The Fray Mamerto Esquiú Department
in Catamarca Province is named in his honour.
Mamerto Esquiú was declared a Servant of God
in 2005 and Venerable
in 2006 and the cause for his beatification
is advancing. The house where he was born, which stands facing the Church of St. Anthony, was declared a National Historic Monument.
Venerable
The Venerable is used as a style or epithet in several Christian churches. It is also the common English-language translation of a number of Buddhist titles.-Roman Catholic:...
Servant of God
Servant of God
Servant of God is a title given to individuals by various religions, but in general the phrase is used to describe a person believed to be pious in his or her faith tradition. In the Catholic Church, it designates someone who is being investigated by the Church for possibly being recognized as a...
(May 11, 1826 - March 10, 1883) was a historically significant Argentine
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
friar.
He was born in Piedra Blanca in Catamarca Province
Catamarca Province
Catamarca is a province of Argentina, located in the northwest of the country. The province has a population of 334,568 as per the , and covers an area of 102,602 km². Its literacy rate is 95.5%. Neighbouring provinces are : Salta, Tucumán, Santiago del Estero, Córdoba, and La Rioja...
to Esquiú and María de las Nieves Medina. His mother chose the name Mamerto de la Ascensión in homenage to Saint Mamerto due to his date of birth being Saint Mamero day, and Ascensión because Ascension day fell on that day in 1883.
He took his Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
faith from his mother, and on May 31, 1836 he began training at the Catamarca Franciscan Convent in Catamarca
San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca
San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca is a city in northwestern Argentina and capital of Catamarca Province, on the Río Valle River, at the feet of the Cerro Ambato....
. He performed his first mass
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
on May 15, 1849.
He was fervently committed to education being a teacher and professor at the convent.
After the bloody civil war
Argentine Civil War
The Argentine Civil Wars were a series of internecine wars that took place in Argentina from 1814 to 1876. These conflicts were separate from the Argentine War of Independence , though they first arose during this period....
of July 9, 1853 he preached his famous Sermon of the Constitution, where he prayed for the union of all Argentines. He became a noted as a patriot and religious figure for his oratory and sermons advocating Argentine unity and the 1853 constitution.
Mamerto Esquiú was consecrated Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Córdoba
Córdoba, Argentina
Córdoba is a city located near the geographical center of Argentina, in the foothills of the Sierras Chicas on the Suquía River, about northwest of Buenos Aires. It is the capital of Córdoba Province. Córdoba is the second-largest city in Argentina after the federal capital Buenos Aires, with...
on December 12, 1880 and took possession of its episcopal headquarters on January 16 the following year.
He died on January 10, 1883 in El Suncho, Catamarca, his mortal remains lie in Córdoba Cathedral. His incorrupt heart had remained in the Franciscan Convent in Catamarca
San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca
San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca is a city in northwestern Argentina and capital of Catamarca Province, on the Río Valle River, at the feet of the Cerro Ambato....
. In January 2008, his heart was stolen from the urn in which it was kept; this is the second time it was taken, as someone had previously absconded with it in 1990. The Fray Mamerto Esquiú Department
Fray Mamerto Esquiú Department
Fray Mamerto Esquiú is a department of Catamarca Province in Argentina. This provincial subdivision has a population of about 11,000 inhabitants in an area of 280 km², and its capital city is San José...
in Catamarca Province is named in his honour.
Mamerto Esquiú was declared a Servant of God
Servant of God
Servant of God is a title given to individuals by various religions, but in general the phrase is used to describe a person believed to be pious in his or her faith tradition. In the Catholic Church, it designates someone who is being investigated by the Church for possibly being recognized as a...
in 2005 and Venerable
Venerable
The Venerable is used as a style or epithet in several Christian churches. It is also the common English-language translation of a number of Buddhist titles.-Roman Catholic:...
in 2006 and the cause for his beatification
Beatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
is advancing. The house where he was born, which stands facing the Church of St. Anthony, was declared a National Historic Monument.