Father Joaquin Masmitjá
Venerable Joaquin Masmitjá
On January 23, 2020 the Holy Father, Pope Francis, authorized the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to promulgate the decree of heroic virtues of Joaquin Masmitjá, Canon of the Cathedral of Gerona, Spain and founder of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. With this promulgation, Father Masmitjà was declared “venerable” and moved one step closer to canonization.
Fr. Joaquin Masmitjá was born in Olot, Spain, on December 29, 1808, the fourth child of Francisco and Maria Gracia. He was quiet and unassuming, wishing to get along with others but not afraid of showing piety; in addition, he was extremely intelligent. Joaquin, from an early age, desired to be a priest. His desire was fulfilled when he was ordained a priest on February 22, 1834. He also had degrees in both canon and civil law. As a parish priest in mid-nineteenth century Spain, Father Masmitjá frequently encountered among his parishioners the reality of poor formation in the Faith. Catholic culture had disappeared; secularism was gaining ground and morality was eroding. His concerns so closely resemble the needs of our own time; in fact, his priestly heart’s overriding concern was for the salvation of souls and how seemingly impossible it was to pursue holiness amidst the secularism of his day. He established the 40 Hours devotion in his parishes, trained catechists, and hosted missions for his parishioners, most notably given by St. Anthony Mary Claret, his good friend. But this, he found, was not enough.
In 1848, Venerable Joaquin Masmitjá founded the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary to teach and form the young in the truths of our Catholic Faith and to pray for the conversion of sinners. In today’s world, with society promoting vice as virtue, praying for the conversion of sinners is not as well-known as in previous decades. And yet, a true love for souls is the motivation to pray and work for their salvation. The Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, 172 years after their foundation, continue, in union with Our Lady, to pray and teach, to sacrifice and work, for the salvation of souls.
Father Masmitjá believed in and promoted the powerful intercession of the Immaculate and Sorrowful Heart of Mary. He also wanted with all of his might to protect that Heart from the cruel sword that pierces it when sinners renew the passion and death of her Son by refusing His mercy and forgiveness. The declaration of his heroic virtue is a good reminder to renew the commitment to pray for hardened sinners that they may know the forgiveness of God and the tender love of their Heavenly Mother.
Fr. Masmitjá continued to guide his spiritual daughters despite his many duties. On Thursday, August 26, 1886, Fr. Masmijtá died as the result of a serious fall. Fr. Masmitjá continually accepted God’s plan as it unfolded in his life; he truly imitated Mary’s fiat. He had a true love for all people, desiring sinners to be brought back to God. People were attracted to holiness by the witness of Fr. Masmitjá.
It was said of Fr. Masmitjá: “[He] is not an ordinary man, but one of those whose sanctity is transparent and noticeable even when they try to hide it.” He desired to live his life for God and for others; he was a priest dedicated to His Lord. He deserved the high praise of one: “His priestly life was perfect.”