Alberto Hurtado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids SaintAlberto Hurtado SJ |
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San Alberto Hurtado
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| Born | January 22, 1901 Viña del Mar, Chile |
| Died | August 18, 1952 (aged 51) Santiago, Chile |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church |
| Beatified | October 16, 1994, Vatican City by Pope John Paul II |
| Canonized | October 23, 2005, Vatican City by Pope Benedict XVI |
| Major shrine | Shrine of Father Hurtado, Santiago, Chile |
| Feast | August 18 |
| Attributes | Jesuit robes, an old green van |
| Patronage | Chile, poor people, street children, social workers, and is also known as a class patron in Xavier School |
Alberto Hurtado (born Luis Alberto Hurtado Cruchaga on January 22, 1901, in Viña del Mar, Chile – August 18, 1952, in Santiago, Chile), was a Jesuit priest, lawyer, and social worker. People in Chile often called him Padre Hurtado (which means "Father Hurtado"). He is famous for starting the Hogar de Cristo foundation in 1944. He became a saint on October 23, 2005, when Pope Benedict XVI canonized him. He was the second saint from Chile.
Contents
Early Life and Studies
Alberto Hurtado was born in Viña del Mar, Chile, on January 22, 1901. His family was once wealthy, but when Alberto was four, his father died. His mother had to sell their large home, but the buyer cheated her. This left the family poor, and they had to live with different relatives.
Because of this, Alberto understood what it was like to be poor and not have a stable home. He received a scholarship to attend a well-known Jesuit school called St. Ignacio in Santiago, Chile. While there, he volunteered at a Catholic parish and school in a poor area, helping in the office and library.
From 1918 to 1923, he studied law at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. He wrote his final paper on labour law. After a break for military service, he finished his degree in August 1923.
In 1923, Hurtado joined the Jesuits. He continued his studies in different countries, including Argentina, Spain, and Belgium. He became a priest on August 24, 1933. In 1935, he earned a doctorate in pedagogy (the art of teaching) and psychology.
A Teacher and Helper
Before returning to Chile, Alberto Hurtado visited many social and educational places in Europe. He came back to Chile in January 1936. He became a religion professor at Colegio San Ignacio and a teaching professor at the Catholic University of Santiago.
He also led a student group called the Sodality of Our Lady. He encouraged these students to teach catechism (religious lessons) to poor people. He believed it was important to help those in need and share Christian teachings.
Helping People in Need
In 1940, Hurtado became a leader in the Catholic Action youth movement. He led it nationally from 1941 to 1944. He also wrote a book called Is Chile a Catholic Country? in 1941. In this book, he showed that there were not enough priests to serve working-class and rural people. He suggested that more priests were needed and that they should have better training.
Remembering his own difficult childhood, Hurtado felt strongly about helping others. He started an organization called Hogar de Cristo (Home of Christ) in 1944. These shelters took in all children who needed food and a place to stay, whether they were abandoned or not.
He even bought a green pickup truck in 1946. At night, he would drive around the streets to find and help people who were homeless or in great need. Many people helped him with his work, and the movement grew very quickly. It is believed that between 1945 and 1951, over 850,000 children received help from Hogar de Cristo.
Supporting Workers
In 1947, Hurtado started working with the labor movement. He was inspired by the Catholic social teaching, which talks about how the Church can help society. He created the Chilean Trade Union Association. Its goal was to train leaders and teach Christian values to labor unions.
He wrote three books about social issues: Social Humanism (1947), The Christian Social Order (1947), and Trade Unions (1950). He also started a magazine called Mensaje ("Message") in 1951. He used it to share the Church's social teachings and help Christians think about Chile's social problems.
His Passing
Alberto Hurtado was a very spiritual person who worked tirelessly for young people and workers. He was always hopeful and joyful. His kind personality drew many people to Christ and the Catholic Church, including young and old, and people from all walks of life.
In 1952, Hurtado became very ill and was taken to the hospital. Doctors found that he had pancreatic cancer. News about his health was shared daily in the media, and he became a national hero. After a short fight with the illness, he passed away in Santiago.
Becoming a Saint
Hurtado was declared "Blessed" (a step towards sainthood) on October 16, 1994, by Pope John Paul II. He was then made a saint by Pope Benedict XVI on October 23, 2005. He was one of the first people to become a saint during Pope Benedict XVI's time as Pope. He was also the second Chilean saint, after Teresa of the Andes.
Alberto Hurtado is one of the most loved saints in Chile. Many Chilean people, including the country's president, traveled to St. Peter's Square in Rome for his canonization day.
His Lasting Impact
- The "Hogar de Cristo" organization he founded still exists today. It continues to fight for social justice and is one of the largest charity groups in Chile.
- A street and a metro station in Santiago are named after him. The metro station, San Alberto Hurtado metro station, is close to his main shrine and the Hogar de Cristo headquarters.
- Alberto Hurtado University in Santiago, run by the Jesuits, carries on his name. It works to bring his ideas into modern education and social issues.
- Many schools, like St. Joseph's Preparatory School in Philadelphia and Xavier High School in New York, have programs or places named after him. These programs often help feed the hungry or provide education.
- The Jesuit school Clongowes Wood College in Ireland named a special program after him in 2007. This program helps students who might not otherwise be able to afford a Jesuit education.
- Since 2006, the Press Club of Chile has given out the Alberto Hurtado Cruchaga Award. This award honors people and groups who serve the community through journalism.
Some Disagreements
Not everyone agreed with all of Alberto Hurtado's ideas or actions. Some members of the Conservative Party criticized him. They felt he supported a different political group that had split from their party. There were also some criticisms from people on the left, who saw his work differently.
Media About Him
In the 1990s, there was a TV series about him called Crónica de un Hombre Santo (Chronicles of a Holy Man). Four actors played Hurtado at different stages of his life. A popular actor named Cristián Campos played him as an adult.
Alberto Hurtado is still very popular in Chile today. He has many followers on social media.
His Main Books
- ¿Es Chile un pais católico? (Is Chile a Catholic country?), Santiago (Chile), 1941.
- Humanismo social (Social humanism), Santiago (Chile), 1947.
- El orden social cristiano en los documentos de la jerarquía católica (Christian social order in the documents of the Catholic hierarchy), 2 vol., Santiago (Chile), 1947.
- Sindicalismo: historia-teoría-práctica (Syndicalism: History-Theory-Practice), Santiago (Chile), 1950.
See Also
In Spanish: Alberto Hurtado para niños
- Bartolome Blanco Marquez, Youth leader of Catholic Action and martyr of the Spanish Civil War
- Alberto Marvelli
- Saint Alberto Hurtado, patron saint archive
- San Alberto Hurtado metro station
- Frederic Ozanam
- Alberto Hurtado University
Images for kids
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San Alberto Hurtado
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Padre Hurtado
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Fr. Hurtado's memorable green pickup truck
