Manuel Gómez González
Spanish missionary priest in Brazil, martyred in 1924 with the young Adílio Daronch.
Contemporaries
Figures and markers around the normalized period for this entry.
Guided reading
5 reading sections
Biography
The life of Manuel Gómez González, from his birth in Spain to his ministry in Portugal and then in Brazil.
Blessed Manuel Gómez González was born on May 29, 1877, in San José de Ribarteme, in the municipality of As Neves (Spain). The eldest son of José Gómez Rodríguez and Josefa González Durán, he was ordained a priest on May 24, 1902, after studies at the seminary of Tuy. After serving in Spain, he was incardinated into the Archdiocese of Braga in Portugal in 1905. In 1913, fleeing political and religious persecution under the First Portuguese Republic, he left for Brazil, where he was welcomed into the Diocese of Santa Maria and appointed parish priest of Soledade and later of Nonoai.
Life and work
The pastoral and social action of Father Manuel Gómez González in Nonoai.
In Nonoai, Father Manuel Gómez González faced an immense and impoverished territory. He reorganized the catechesis and committed himself to social development: he opened a free school in his own home, had a brick kiln built to construct free housing for the poor, introduced new crops such as rice and potatoes, and supported the Kaingang Indians. He also managed the parish of Palmeira das Missões, traveling on horseback with his young altar server, Adílio Daronch.
Path to holiness
The martyrdom of Father Manuel and Adílio Daronch in 1924.
In 1924, during political tensions in southern Brazil, the bishop asked him to visit German settlers in Três Passos. On the way, he exhorted the revolutionaries to peace and gave Christian burials to the victims of the fighting, drawing the hostility of military leaders. On May 21, 1924, Father Manuel and Adílio Daronch were intercepted by soldiers in the Feijão Miúdo forest, tied to trees, and shot in hatred of the faith.
Beatification and canonization
The recognition of martyrdom and beatification in 2007.
The cause for beatification was opened in Brazil in 1996. On December 16, 2006, Pope Benedict XVI recognized their martyrdom in odium fidei. They were beatified on October 21, 2007, in Frederico Westphalen by Cardinal José Saraiva Martins, the Pope's legate. Their liturgical feast is set for May 21.
Spirituality and legacy
The spiritual legacy and places of memory of the blessed.
Blessed Manuel Gómez González leaves behind the image of a charitable and socially committed pastor. The site of his martyrdom in Feijão Miúdo has been renamed 'Padre Gonzáles' and houses a pilgrimage chapel. The relics of the two martyrs are venerated in the parish of Nonoai.
Frequently asked questions about Manuel Gómez González
Who was Manuel Gómez González?
Spanish missionary priest in Brazil, martyred in 1924 with the young Adílio Daronch.
How did Manuel Gómez González die?
Manuel Gómez González suffered martyrdom for the Christian faith (20th century).
Which saints were contemporaries of Manuel Gómez González?
Contemporaries include: Pauline of the Agonizing Heart of Jesus, Felipe de Jesús Munárriz and 50 companions, Mariano de Jesús Euse Hoyos and Teresa of Jesus of the Andes.
Who are the relatives of Manuel Gómez González?
Relatives of Manuel Gómez González: José Gómez Rodríguez (father) and Josefa González Durán (mother).
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Era / death: 1924
- Beatification in 2007 by Benedict XVI