Turibius of Mogrovejo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saint Toribio Alfonso de Mogrovejo |
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| Archbishop of Lima | |
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| Church | Catholic Church |
| Archdiocese | Lima |
| See | Lima |
| Appointed | 16 May 1579 |
| Enthroned | 24 May 1581 |
| Reign ended | 23 March 1606 |
| Predecessor | Diego Gómez de Lamadrid |
| Successor | Bartolomé Lobo Guerrero |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1578 |
| Consecration | 23 August 1580 by Cristóbal Rojas Sandoval |
| Rank | Bishop |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Toribio Alfonso de Mogrovejo |
| Born | 16 November 1538 Mayorga de Campos, Kingdom of León, Habsburg Spain |
| Died | 23 March 1606 (aged 67) Saña, Viceroyalty of Peru, Peru |
| Alma mater |
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| Sainthood | |
| Feast day | |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 2 July 1679 Rome, Papal States by Pope Innocent XI |
| Canonized | 10 December 1726 Rome, Papal States by Pope Benedict XIII |
| Attributes | Episcopal attire |
| Patronage |
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Toribio Alfonso de Mogrovejo (1538–1606) was a Spanish leader in the Catholic Church. He served as the Archbishop of Lima from 1579 until his death. He first studied humanities and law. Later, he became a professor.
King Philip II of Spain then asked him to be the Grand Inquisitor. This was unusual because he had no government experience. The king was impressed by his work. He then nominated Toribio to be the Archbishop of Lima. The pope agreed, even though Toribio protested.
Toribio became a priest in 1578. He was made an archbishop in 1580. Then he traveled to Peru to start his work. He was a great speaker. He helped teach and baptize many native people. He confirmed almost half a million people. These included famous saints like Rose of Lima and Martin de Porres.
The archbishop worked hard to improve the church. He helped priests behave better. He also started new ways to educate future priests. He even predicted the exact time of his death. People remembered him for his holiness and wisdom. He was later made a saint. Pope Innocent XI declared him "blessed" in 1679. Pope Benedict XIII made him a saint on December 10, 1726.
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His Life and Work
Toribio Alfonso de Mogrovejo was born on November 16, 1538. His birthplace was Mayorga de Campos in Spain. His parents were nobles, Luis Alfonso de Mogrovejo and Ana de Roblès i Morán. He was named after another saint, Turibius of Astorga.
Early Education
As a child, Toribio was very religious. He showed great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. He would fast once a week to honor her. He also prayed the rosary often. He received a good education for a noble. In 1550, he started studying humanities at the University of Valladolid.
Later, he became a law professor. He taught students at the famous University of Salamanca. His uncle, Juan de Mogrovejo, was also a professor there. Toribio went with his uncle to the University of Coimbra in Portugal. He studied there before returning to Salamanca.
King Philip II noticed Toribio's learning and good character. In 1571, the king appointed him as the Grand Inquisitor. This was for the Inquisition Court in Granada. He held this position until 1576. His work there greatly impressed the king.
Becoming an Archbishop
King Philip II then chose Toribio to be the Archbishop of Lima. Toribio strongly disagreed. He argued that only priests could hold such high church positions. But the pope overruled him. So, preparations began for him to become a priest.
He was ordained as a priest in 1578 in Granada. Pope Gregory XIII officially named him Archbishop of Lima on May 16, 1579. He became a bishop in August 1580. Cristóbal Rojas Sandoval, the Archbishop of Seville, led this ceremony. In September 1580, Toribio left for Peru with his sister and her husband.
Journey to Peru and Ministry
The new archbishop arrived in Paita, Peru, on May 12, 1581. This town was about 600 miles (970 kilometers) from Lima. He started his mission by walking to Lima. Along the way, he baptized and taught many native people. He was officially welcomed into his new role a week later.
He often said, "Time is not our own, and we must give a strict account of it." He traveled across his entire archdiocese three times. He walked alone, facing storms, wild animals, and tropical heat. He also dealt with fevers and threats from some tribes. Despite these challenges, he baptized and confirmed nearly half a million people. Among them were future saints: Rose of Lima, Martin de Porres, Francis Solano, and Juan Masías.
He helped build roads, schools, chapels, and hospitals. In 1591, he started the first seminary in the Western Hemisphere. He made sure that future priests learned local native languages. On February 2, 1604, he opened the first part of the third Lima Cathedral. He also held thirteen local church meetings and three larger regional councils.
Toribio was a strong supporter of native people's rights. He learned their local languages. He stood up for their freedoms against the Spanish rulers. He worked to improve the behavior of priests in his area. Some priests did not like his reforms. However, the governor, Francisco de Toledo, supported him.
He also helped put into practice the rules from the Council of Trent. He made spreading the Christian message a main goal. In 1584, he created a catechism (a book of religious teachings) in three languages: Spanish, Quechuan, and Aymara. This followed the Council of Trent's idea of preaching in native languages.
Toribio held two more regional councils in 1591 and 1601. He made three long visits to different parishes. He would check that everything for worship was in good condition. He would talk to the local priest about the parish. He also checked church records and ensured priests had the correct prayer books.
His Passing
Toribio predicted the exact day and time of his death. He caught a fever during a visit to Pacasmayo. He continued working until he reached Zaña. There, he was very ill. He managed to receive his last rites. He died shortly after, on March 23, 1606. This was on Holy Thursday, at 3:30 pm, at the Saint Augustine convent. His last words were similar to Jesus Christ's on the Cross: "Lord, into Thy hands I commend my spirit." His body is buried in the main cathedral in Lima.
Sainthood
Toribio was declared "blessed" by Pope Innocent XI in 1679. This was confirmed in a special church document called "Laudeamus". Later, Pope Benedict XIII made him a saint on December 10, 1726. This was done through another document called "Quoniam Spiritus".
His special feast day was once celebrated on April 27. Now, it is celebrated on March 23. At first, he was mainly honored in South America. But now, he is known more widely because of his important reforms. In 1983, Pope John Paul II named him the patron saint for all Latin American bishops.
See also
In Spanish: Toribio de Mogrovejo para niños
- List of Catholic saints
- Mogrovejo
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lima
- Saint Turibius of Mogrovejo, patron saint archive
