Ceferino Namuncurá
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Ceferino Namuncurá (August 26, 1886 – May 11, 1905) was a religious student, the object of a
Roman Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...
''cultus'' of veneration in northern
Patagonia Patagonia () is a geographical region that includes parts of Argentina and Chile at the southern end of South America. The region includes the southern section of the Andes mountain chain with lakes, fjords, temperate rainforests, and glaciers ...
and throughout
Argentina Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a country in the southern half of South America. It covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest country in South America after Brazil, the fourt ...
.


Early life

He was born at Chimpay, a small town in Valle Medio,
Río Negro Province Río Negro (, ''Black River'') is a province of Argentina, located in northern Patagonia. Neighboring provinces are from the south clockwise Chubut, Neuquén, Mendoza, La Pampa and Buenos Aires. To the east lies the Atlantic Ocean. Its cap ...
,
Argentina Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a country in the southern half of South America. It covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest country in South America after Brazil, the fourt ...
, the sixth child of Rosario Burgos and a
Mapuche The Mapuche ( , ) also known as Araucanians are a group of Indigenous peoples of the Americas, Indigenous inhabitants of south-central Chile and southwestern Argentina, including parts of Patagonia. The collective term refers to a wide-ranging e ...
''
cacique A cacique, sometimes spelled as cazique (; ; feminine form: ), was a tribal chieftain of the Taíno people, who were the Indigenous inhabitants of the Bahamas, the Greater Antilles, and the northern Lesser Antilles at the time of European cont ...
'', Manuel Namuncurá. At the age of eight, he was
baptized Baptism (from ) is a Christian sacrament of initiation almost invariably with the use of water. It may be performed by sprinkling or pouring water on the head, or by immersing in water either partially or completely, traditionally three ...
by a
Salesian The Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB), formally known as the Society of Saint Francis de Sales (), is a religious congregation of men in the Catholic Church, founded in 1859 by the Italian priest John Bosco to help poor and migrant youth during the ...
missionary priest, Domingo Milanesio. Namuncurá's early years were spent by the Río Negro river, and it was here that he, according to legend, miraculously survived a fall into the river. His father Manuel, Chief of the Mapuches, promoted to honorary colonel in the Argentine army, decided that his son would study in Buenos Aires to prepare himself "to be useful to his people." Thanks to the friendship of Manuel with General Luís María Campos, Minister of War and the Navy of
Argentina Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a country in the southern half of South America. It covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest country in South America after Brazil, the fourt ...
, the boy came to study in the National Workshops of the Navy as a carpenter's apprentice. There he would remain for three months. Being the only native Indian in the school, Ceferino was mistreated by the other students, and he soon fell ill. He wrote to his father that he was not happy in that place, and Manuel then asked former Argentine president
Luis Sáenz Peña Luis Sáenz-Peña (2 April 1822 – 4 December 1907) was a lawyer and President of Argentina. He was the father of president Roque Sáenz Peña. Biography Luis Saenz-Peña was born on 2 April 1822 to Roque Julián Sáenz-Peña and María Lu ...
's advice. He recommended to Colonel Manuel Namuncurá that he send the boy to the
Salesians of Don Bosco The Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB), formally known as the Society of Saint Francis de Sales (), is a religious congregation of men in the Catholic Church, founded in 1859 by the Italian priest John Bosco to help poor and migrant youth during the ...
.


Education

On September 20, 1897, Ceferino went to study with the Salesians at the Colegio Pío IX, a technical academy in Almagro,
Buenos Aires Buenos Aires, controlled by the government of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Argentina. It is located on the southwest of the Río de la Plata. Buenos Aires is classified as an Alpha− glob ...
. There, he showed himself to be an excellent student and choral musician. He enjoyed his studies and sports and performed card tricks for his classmates, and taught them archery. From April 2, 1901,
Carlos Gardel Carlos Gardel (born Charles Romuald Gardès; 11 December 1890 – 24 June 1935) was a French-born Argentine singer, songwriter, composer and actor, and the most prominent figure in the history of tango. He was one of the most influential inter ...
, afterward a legendary
tango Tango is a partner dance and social dance that originated in the 1880s along the Río de la Plata, the natural border between Argentina and Uruguay. The tango was born in the impoverished port areas of these countries from a combination of Arge ...
singer and film actor, became a student at the academy and sang along with Ceferino in the chorus. Manuel, his father, wanted him back home to serve as interpreter and secretary when he finished his studies. However, Ceferino was already enthusiastic about becoming a Salesian priest.


In Italy

Although his health was already generally frail, Ceferino began studying for the priesthood. In 1904, he departed for
Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
accompanying Mgr. Giovanni Cagliero, a former disciple of
Don Bosco John Melchior Bosco, SDB (; ; 16 August 181531 January 1888), popularly known as Don Bosco or Dom Bosco ( IPA: ), was an Italian Catholic priest, educator and writer. While working in Turin, where the population suffered many of the ill eff ...
who was to become an
Archbishop In Christian denominations, an archbishop is a bishop of higher rank or office. In most cases, such as the Catholic Church, there are many archbishops who either have jurisdiction over an ecclesiastical province in addition to their own archdi ...
.
Pope Pius X Pope Pius X (; born Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto; 2 June 1835 – 20 August 1914) was head of the Catholic Church from 4 August 1903 to his death in August 1914. Pius X is known for vigorously opposing Modernism in the Catholic Church, modern ...
received them in September, after which Namuncurá moved to
Turin Turin ( , ; ; , then ) is a city and an important business and cultural centre in northern Italy. It is the capital city of Piedmont and of the Metropolitan City of Turin, and was the first Italian capital from 1861 to 1865. The city is main ...
and later to the Salesian College " Villa Sora" in
Frascati Frascati () is a city and in the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital in the Lazio region of central Italy. It is located south-east of Rome, on the Alban Hills close to the ancient city of Tusculum. Frascati is closely associated with science, ...
, to continue his education. He became increasingly ill during the Italian winter. He was taken to Rome, where he finally succumbed to
pulmonary tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB), also known colloquially as the "white death", or historically as consumption, is a contagious disease usually caused by ''Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can al ...
on May 11, 1905, at the ''Fate bene fratelli'' hospital.


Back to Argentina

In 1924 his remains were returned to Argentina and placed in the chapel at Fortín Mercedes, in the southern part of
Buenos Aires Province Buenos Aires, officially the Buenos Aires Province, is the largest and most populous Provinces of Argentina, Argentine province. It takes its name from the city of Buenos Aires, the capital of the country, which used to be part of the province an ...
. In 1945, a request for his beatification was forwarded to the
Holy See The Holy See (, ; ), also called the See of Rome, the Petrine See or the Apostolic See, is the central governing body of the Catholic Church and Vatican City. It encompasses the office of the pope as the Bishops in the Catholic Church, bishop ...
. Between May 13 and July 10, 1947, the church officially started the process for Canonization of Ceferino Namuncurá, with 21 then-living witnesses deposing evidence in favor of his virtues. Theologians approved his spiritual writings on 10 June 1949. At his birthplace of Chimpay, a small chapel was erected, where believers from Río Negro Province and beyond began to pray for his
intercession Intercession or intercessory prayer is the act of prayer, praying on behalf of others, or Intercession of saints, asking a saint in heaven to pray on behalf of oneself or for others. The Apostle Paul's exhortation to Saint Timothy, Timothy speci ...
. On June 22, 1972,
Pope Paul VI Pope Paul VI (born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini; 26 September 18976 August 1978) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding John XXII ...
promulgated the Decree of Heroism of His Virtues, and Ceferino was thus proclaimed ''
venerable ''The Venerable'' often shortened to Venerable is a style, title, or epithet used in some Christianity, Christian churches. The title is often accorded to holy persons for their spiritual perfection and wisdom. Catholic In the Catholic Churc ...
'', becoming the first Catholic Argentine to receive that title and the first South American aborigine. The devotion to Ceferino Namuncurá, the saintly young Mapuche, known popularly as ''The Lily of Patagonia'' ("El lirio de la Patagonia") became very extensive in
Buenos Aires Buenos Aires, controlled by the government of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Argentina. It is located on the southwest of the Río de la Plata. Buenos Aires is classified as an Alpha− glob ...
and throughout
Argentina Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a country in the southern half of South America. It covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest country in South America after Brazil, the fourt ...
. In particular, the indigenous people recognize him as one of their own. The affection of the people of Argentina for this selfless young man is quite touchingly sincere, and images and representations of his face are myriad. In 1991 his relics were translated from the small sanctuary chapel to the roomier Sanctuary of Mary, Help of Christians, at the same town of Fortín Mercedes.


Beatification

In 2000 a committee of Vatican pathologists declared that the healing of the uterine cancer of a young mother, Valeria Herrera from Córdoba,
Argentina Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a country in the southern half of South America. It covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest country in South America after Brazil, the fourt ...
, could not be explained medically, with which it was left to church authorities to decree that it was a miracle due to the intercession of Ceferino Namuncurá. This opened the way for the beatification of Ceferino. Pope
Benedict XVI Pope BenedictXVI (born Joseph Alois Ratzinger; 16 April 1927 – 31 December 2022) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 19 April 2005 until resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, his resignation on 28 Februar ...
finally decreed his beatification on July 6, 2007.Clarín, July 6, 2007
''El Papa declaró beato a Ceferino Namuncurá''
.
The beatification ceremony was held in Chimpay, Argentina, on November 11, 2007. It was one of the first few beatification ceremonies held outside the
Vatican Vatican may refer to: Geography * Vatican City, an independent city-state surrounded by Rome, Italy * Vatican Hill, in Rome, namesake of Vatican City * Ager Vaticanus, an alluvial plain in Rome * Vatican, an unincorporated community in the ...
and in the blessed's land; it was the first beatification of a South American aborigine. The solemn liturgy was presided over by Cardinal
Tarcisio Bertone Tarcisio Pietro Evasio Bertone (born 2 December 1934) is an Italian prelate of the Catholic Church and a Vatican City, Vatican diplomat. A Cardinal (Catholicism), cardinal since 2003, he served as Archbishop of Vercelli from 1991 to 1995, as S ...
, papal Secretary of State and himself a Salesian of Don Bosco. More than ten thousand people participated, with an active role played by Mapuche delegations. Ceferino's liturgical calendar memorial as a Catholic ''beatus'' was assigned to August 26.


Legacy

Manuel Gálvez Manuel Gálvez (18 July 1882 – 14 November 1962) was an Argentine novelist, poet, essayist, historian and biographer. Early years Gálvez, a member of one of the leading patrician families of Entre Ríos Province, was educated by the Jesuits b ...
, the Argentine novelist and biographer, wrote a biography of Ceferino Namuncurá in 1947: ''El Santito de la Toldería. La vida perfecta de Ceferino Namuncurá''. Ceferino Namuncura Park, along the Negro River, in Chimpay, is named in his honor. In Cebu, Philippines, students of Don Bosco Technology Center staged a play entitled ''Zephyrin: The Musicale'' on March 14, 15, and 16, 2008, at SM Cinema One in
Cebu City Cebu City, officially the City of Cebu, is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Central Visayas region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 964,169 people, making ...
, Philippines, written by
Jude Gitamondoc Jude Gitamondoc (complete name Jude Thaddeus Gitamondoc) is a Filipino songwriter, record producer, musical director, and stage director based in Cebu, Philippines. He had won several awards including two Awit Awards, ABS-CBN's Himig Handog ...
and directed by Daisy Brilliantes Ba-ad with the help of Don Bosco Technology Center Productions. The musical was a Salesian Production made in honor of the beatification of Ceferino. The musical featured amateur actors, mostly from high school and elementary. The story begins when Ceferino is only a child and ends after his death. The play was rerun on Nov. 10-12 at
SM Seaside City Cebu SM Seaside City (also known locally as SM Seaside and formerly but still officially known on exterior signage as SM Seaside City Cebu), is a large shopping mall owned and developed by SM Prime Holdings in South Road Properties, Cebu City, Phili ...
's Centerstage.


See also

*
Religion in Argentina Christianity is the most widely professed religion in Argentina, with Catholic Church being its largest denomination. This historical background is very much due to the Spanish influence brought about through the newly conquered territories. H ...


References


External links


Site about Ceferino Namuncurá (Spanish)
*

* Image of Ceferino Namuncura by Perez Celis
Ceferino Namuncurá - Pérez Celis

Ceferino Namuncurá - Pérez Celis
{{DEFAULTSORT:Namuncura, Ceferino 1886 births 1905 deaths 19th-century Mapuche people 20th-century Mapuche people 20th-century venerated Christians Argentine beatified people Roman Catholic child blesseds 20th-century deaths from tuberculosis Tuberculosis deaths in Italy Argentine people of Mapuche descent People from Río Negro Province Salesian Order Indigenous religious leaders of the Americas Beatifications by Pope Benedict XVI Infectious disease deaths in Lazio