Prosper Grech facts for kids
Quick facts for kids His Eminence Prosper Grech OSA |
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| Cardinal Deacon of Santa Maria Goretti | |
Cardinal Grech in 2014
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| Other posts |
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| Orders | |
| Ordination | 25 March 1950 |
| Consecration | 8 February 2012 by Paul Cremona |
| Created Cardinal | 18 February 2012 |
| Rank | Cardinal deacon |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Stanley Grech |
| Born | 24 December 1925 Vittoriosa, Crown Colony of Malta |
| Died | 30 December 2019 (aged 94) Rome, Italy |
| Nationality | Maltese |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Alma mater |
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| Motto | In te Domine speravi ('In you, Lord, I take refuge'; Psalm 71:1) |
| Styles of Prosper Grech |
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| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
Prosper Grech (born Stanley Grech) was an important Augustinian friar from Malta. He was born on December 24, 1925, and passed away on December 30, 2019. He helped start a special school in Rome called the Patristic Institute Augustinianum. In 2012, Pope Benedict XVI made him a cardinal. This was a very special honor, as he was only the second person from Malta to become a cardinal since 1843!
Contents
Early Life and Education
Prosper Grech was born Stanley Grech in Vittoriosa, Malta. This happened on December 24, 1925. He went to school at the Lyceum. In 1943, he joined the Augustinian Order. This is when he chose the name Prospero.
During the Second World War, Malta was under attack. Young Grech served as a gunner. He was part of the Royal Malta Artillery. Later, on March 25, 1950, he became a priest. This ceremony took place in Rome at the Basilica of Saint John Lateran.
Advanced Studies and Research
Grech continued his studies in many places. He studied philosophy in Rabat, Malta. He also studied theology in Rome. He earned a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 1953.
He also got a special degree in sacred scripture. This was from the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome. In 1951, he earned a diploma in educational psychology. This was from the University of Fribourg in Switzerland. He even did research on Semitic languages. This research took him to the famous universities of Oxford and Cambridge in England.
Teaching and Church Service
In 1959, Prosper Grech became a lecturer. He taught at the Augustinian Theological College in Rabat. He also taught at the Augustine Institute. He joined the staff of the Vicar General for Vatican City. This meant he helped the Bishop who was in charge of the Vatican City.
Helping Popes and Founding a School
One of his duties was helping Pope John XXIII and Pope Paul VI. He would help them get ready for church services. During the election of a new Pope in 1963, he even heard the confession of Giovanni Battista Montini. This was just hours before Montini became Pope Paul VI.
In 1970, Grech did something very important. He co-founded the Patristic Institute Augustinianum in Rome. This school is connected to the Lateran University. He was the president of this institute from 1971 to 1979. He also became a member of important church groups. These included the Pontifical Academy of Theology and the Pontifical Biblical Commission.
Lectures and Publications
For over 30 years, Grech taught about hermeneutics. This is the study of how to interpret texts, especially the Bible. He taught this at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome. In 1984, he became an advisor to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. This is a very important department in the Catholic Church.
He also traveled to India in 1998. There, he visited seminaries, which are schools for training priests. Prosper Grech wrote many articles and books. He also gave many lectures about the Bible and church history. On December 13, 2011, he received a high honor from Malta. He was made a Companion of the National Order of Merit.
Becoming a Cardinal
On January 6, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI made a big announcement. He said he would make Prosper Grech a cardinal. This happened on February 18, 2012. Grech was the first Augustinian friar to become a cardinal in 111 years!
Episcopal Consecration
Normally, cardinals must be bishops. So, Grech was made a bishop before becoming a cardinal. This happened on February 8, 2012. Paul Cremona, the Archbishop of Malta, led the ceremony. Grech chose a special motto for his new role: In te Domine speravi. This means 'In you, Lord, I take refuge' and comes from Psalm 71.
Role as Cardinal
On February 18, 2012, he officially became a cardinal deacon. This happened during a special ceremony called a Papal consistory. He was given the church of Santa Maria Goretti in Rome.
In 2013, he gave the opening speech at the election for the new Pope. He was too old to vote himself, but his words were important. He warned about the dangers of disunity in the Church. He said that extreme views could cause problems. He believed that small divisions could harm the Church.
Later, Pope Francis praised Cardinal Grech. This was when the Augustinianum school celebrated its 50th anniversary. Pope Francis admired the "grandiose simplicity" of Grech's sermons.
Cardinal Grech passed away in Rome on December 30, 2019. He was in Santo Spirito Hospital.
See also
In Spanish: Prosper Grech para niños
