A Spanish Augustinian Recollect priest and saint who dedicated his life to serving the poor and marginalized, and is revered for his selfless compassion and miracles.
Ezequil Moreno y Daz, a Spanish Catholic friar of the Order of Augustinian Recollects, is revered as a saint and patron of cancer patients. His selfless missionary work in the Philippines and later in Colombia earned him a special place in the hearts of the faithful.
Born on April 9, 1848, in Alfaro, La Rioja, Spain, Ezequil was the third of six children to Flix Moreno and Mara Josefa Daz. His father was a humble tailor, and the family lived a simple life. As a young boy, Ezequil served as an altar boy for the Dominican nuns, where he developed a deep devotion to Our Lady of the Rosary.
Inspired by his older brother, Ezequil entered the Recoletos in Monteagudo, Navarra, Spain on September 21, 1864, taking the name Fray Ezequiel Moreno de la Virgen del Rosario. He made his solemn vow in Marcialla, Navarra, on September 22, 1865. The monastery in Monteagudo was renowned for dispatching missionaries to the Americas and the Philippines, and Ezequil felt an insatiable urge to spread the Gospel in these distant lands.
On October 14, 1869, Ezequil embarked from Cdiz, bound for Manila, where he arrived on February 10, 1870. He was ordained a priest on June 3, 1871, by the Archbishop of Manila, Gregorio Melitn Martnez. Ezequil was immediately sent to his first mission in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro, where he quickly mastered the Tagalog language.
Later in his life, Ezequil became the Bishop of Pinara and later of Pasto, in Colombia. However, it was his unwavering dedication to the sick and the afflicted that earned him the title of patron saint of cancer patients. Today, countless devotees invoke his intercession, seeking solace and comfort in their darkest hours.
Ezequil Moreno y Daz's selfless life and missionary work did not go unnoticed. He was beatified on November 1, 1975, and canonized on October 11, 1992, by Pope John Paul II. His feast day is celebrated on August 19.
Today, Ezequil Moreno y Daz remains an inspiration to millions around the world. His life's work is a testament to the transformative power of faith, love, and selfless service. As we reflect on his extraordinary journey, we are reminded of the enduring impact of one person's life on the lives of countless others.
Born in 1920
Leader of the Catholic Church from 1978 to 2005, known for helping to end communism in Poland and being a charismatic advocate for human rights and social justice.
