Rafael Merry del Val facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Servant of God Rafael Merry del Val OL |
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| Secretary of the Congregation of the Holy Office | |
Portrait by Giuseppe Felici, ca. 1914
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| Appointed | 14 October 1914 |
| Reign ended | 26 February 1930 |
| Predecessor | Francesco Marchetti Selvaggiani |
| Successor | Raffaele Monaco La Valletta |
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| Orders | |
| Ordination | 30 December 1888 |
| Consecration | 6 May 1900 by Mariano Rampolla del Tindaro |
| Created Cardinal | 9 November 1903 |
| Rank | Cardinal-Priest |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Rafael María José Pedro Francisco Borja Domingo Gerardo de la Santísima Trinidad Merry del Val y Zulueta |
| Born | 10 October 1865 London, England, U.K. |
| Died | 26 February 1930 (aged 64) Vatican City |
| Denomination | Catholic (Roman Rite) |
| Previous post |
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| Motto | Da mihi animas, Cætera tolle (English "Give me souls, take the rest") |
| Coat of arms |  |
Rafael Merry del Val y Zulueta (born October 10, 1865 – died February 26, 1930) was an important Spanish Catholic leader. He became a cardinal and worked closely with the Pope in the Vatican.
He served as the secretary during the 1903 papal election, which chose Pope Pius X. It is said that Merry del Val encouraged Pius X to accept his election. Later, Pius X made him his top advisor, the Cardinal Secretary of State. Merry del Val's writings helped make the Litany of Humility more popular. He also helped restore special rights to Hispanic countries.
Because of his good deeds and strong faith, a process to make him a saint began in 1953. He is now called a Servant of God.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Rafael Merry del Val was born in London, England, on October 10, 1865. His full name was Rafael María José Pedro Francisco Borja Domingo Gerardo de la Santísima Trinidad Merry del Val y Zulueta. His father, Rafael Carlos Merry del Val, was a nobleman and a diplomat for Spain. His mother was Sofia Josefa de Zulueta.
The Merry family originally came from Ireland. They later moved to Spain. Rafael's father was a close friend of Empress Eugénie, who was also from Spain. Rafael's older brother, Alfonso, also became a diplomat and was the Spanish ambassador to the United Kingdom.
Education and Priesthood
Rafael Merry del Val lived in England until he was 13 years old. He went to a Jesuit school in Bournemouth. He later studied at Ushaw College in northern England.
He became a priest on December 30, 1888. He earned degrees in philosophy, theology, and canon law. Canon law is the set of rules that govern the Catholic Church.
Rising Through the Church
In 1891, Merry del Val became a monsignor, which is a special title for a priest. He worked as a secretary in different Vatican offices around the world. He helped Pope Leo XIII decide that Anglican ordinations (the process of becoming a priest or bishop in the Church of England) were not valid in the eyes of the Catholic Church.
He continued to serve in important diplomatic roles. In 1897, he became an Apostolic Delegate to Canada. This meant he was the Pope's representative there. He also became the head of the Pontifical Academy of Ecclesiastical Nobles in 1899. This academy trains priests who will work as diplomats for the Vatican.
In 1900, he was made an archbishop. He was consecrated (made a bishop) by Cardinal Mariano Rampolla del Tindaro. In 1902, he represented the Pope at the coronation of King Edward VII in England.
The 1903 Papal Election
In 1903, Pope Leo XIII died. Merry del Val served as the secretary for the conclave that elected the next Pope. A conclave is a meeting where cardinals gather to choose a new Pope.
During this conclave, there was a moment of drama. A cardinal from Austria tried to stop Cardinal Mariano Rampolla from being elected. This was called a "veto" from the Austrian Emperor. Merry del Val refused to accept this veto. Even though the veto was announced, Cardinal Rampolla actually gained more votes.
However, Merry del Val believed that the cardinals wanted a new direction for the Church. So, Rampolla was unlikely to be elected anyway. After the election, the new Pope, Pius X, made it a rule that anyone trying to influence a conclave with threats would be automatically excommunicated (removed from the Church).
Cardinal Secretary of State
After the 1903 conclave, Pope Pius X made Merry del Val his Pro-Secretary of State. This was a trial period. In November 1903, Merry del Val became the first cardinal created by Pope Pius X. He was then named the full Cardinal Secretary of State. This is a very important role, like being the Pope's chief of staff and foreign minister.
Pope Pius X praised Merry del Val greatly. He said that Merry del Val had spread "the good odor of Christ" everywhere and had done many acts of charity.
From 1907 to 1914, Merry del Val worked hard to fight against "modernism" among priests and university professors. Modernism was a way of thinking that some church leaders believed went against traditional Catholic teachings.
Diplomatic Successes
One of Merry del Val's important diplomatic achievements was signing an agreement with Serbia. This agreement, called a Concordat, was signed just four days before World War I began in 1914. Both the Pope and Merry del Val knew that a major war was coming.
Merry del Val remained Secretary of State until Pope Pius X died in 1914. When Pope Benedict XV was elected, Merry del Val was not reappointed to the same role. Instead, Benedict XV appointed him as the secretary of the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office. This was still an important job, as the Pope himself was the head of this office.
As secretary, Merry del Val managed the daily work of the Holy Office. He explained the Church's policy of "non possumus" (we cannot) to Theodor Herzl, a leader of the Zionist movement. He said that the Church could not support the idea of a Jewish state as long as Jews did not accept Christ's divinity. However, he was more open to the idea when speaking with a British diplomat, Mark Sykes.
Merry del Val continued in this role until his unexpected death on February 26, 1930. He was 64 years old and died during an operation for appendicitis in Vatican City. He was buried in the crypt of St. Peter's Basilica.
Path to Sainthood
The process to make Rafael Merry del Val a saint began on February 26, 1953. This was done at the request of Pope Pius XII. He is now known by the title Servant of God. This is the first step on the path to becoming a saint in the Catholic Church.
Honors
Belgium (1906) - Grand Cordon in the Order of Leopold.
See also
In Spanish: Rafael Merry del Val para niños
