MANILA, July 19, 2013—The Capuchin friars in the Philippines will soon introduce and promote the devotion to Fr. Jose Maria de Manila, a Manila-born Capuchin who was martyred in Tarragona, Spain in the 20th century.
The Kapatiran ng Capuchino ng Pilipinas in the coming days will introduce and promote the devotion to Fr. Jose Maria de Manila in all their parishes across the Philippines.
Vatican has recently announced the beatification of 500 Spanish Martyrs of the 20th century, including Fr. Jose de Manila, this coming October 13, 2013 in Tarragona, Spain.
Father Jose Maria de Manila (Eugenio Saz-Orozco Mortera Camacho), a priest born in the Philippines of Spanish parents, was educated at the Ateneo de Manila, San Juan de Letran and the Pontifical University of Sto. Tomas. He is one of the 32 Capuchin priests and lay religious brothers to be beatified together with other Spanish civil war martyrs mainly Augustinians and Dominicans.
Born in Manila on September 5, 1880, Fr. Jose was the son of the last Spanish mayor of Manila, Don Eugenio Saz-Orozco and Doña Feliza Mortera Camacho.
Record shows that he had his simple profession in Lecaroz, Navarra, Spain on October 4, 1905, his solemn profession on October 18, 1908 and was ordained to the priesthood on November 30, 1910.
He was an eloquent preacher and was a guardian of several Franciscan Capuchin friaries.
On July 20, 1936 due to the savage acts perpetuated by anarchist and Marxist troops against the Christian religion and their ministers, several religious, Father Jose among them, were forced to abandon their convents in Madrid.
On August 17, 1936, the Filipino priest was executed at the gardens of the Cuartel de la Montaña in Madrid, Spain. (Jandel Posion)
