St. John Macias, Religious
Obligatory Memorial
He was born in 1585 in the town of Ribera in Extremadura, Spain, now Ribera del Fresno, and sailed to South America on a merchant ship. In Lima, at the convent of St. Mary Magdalene, he chose the path of evangelical poverty in the Order, becoming renowned for humility and charity.
Serving as porter of the convent for nearly 22 years, he devoted himself especially to works of mercy. He strove to assist the souls of the departed through the prayer of the Rosary and brought many who had strayed from the path of justice back to the love of God.
Like Martin de Porres, he endured insults and slanders, and he cared diligently for the poor and the sick. He died on Sept. 16, 1645. Paul VI enrolled him among the saints on Sept. 28, 1975.
Proprium Officiorum Ordinis Praedicatorum ad Normam Decretorum Sacrosancti Oecumenici Concilii Vaticani II Instauratum Vincentii Couesnongle iussu editum, Editio typica, Sanctae Sabinae, Romae 1982.
