Bishop, Archbishop of Lima, patron of the bishops of Latin America · Feast: 23 March
Open in the Daily Word app“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11
Turibius was born on 16 November 1538 at Mayorga in Spain, of a noble family. He studied law at Valladolid, Salamanca and Coimbra, and he became a noted teacher of law. King Philip II named him a judge of the court of the Inquisition at Granada, although he was a layman. He was known for his fairness and his upright life.
In 1579, when the great see of Lima in Peru fell vacant, the king chose this layman to be its archbishop, and the Pope confirmed the choice. Turibius protested that he was unworthy and that the canons did not allow it, but he finally accepted. He received the sacred orders one by one, was consecrated bishop in 1580, and landed in Peru the next year, in his early forties. His diocese stretched for thousands of miles along the coast and over the Andes.
He found much disorder: abuse of the native peoples, scandal among some clergy and little instruction in the faith. He travelled his vast diocese three times, on foot and by mule, over mountains and through forests, spending years away from his see. He learned native languages so as to speak with his people, and he defended them against those who oppressed them, which brought him into conflict with officials. In 1582 and 1583 he held the Third Council of Lima, which produced a catechism in Spanish, Quechua and Aymara, the first book printed in South America. In 1591 he founded a seminary at Lima, the first in the Americas under the decrees of Trent.
He is said to have confirmed about half a million people; among them were St Rose of Lima and St Martin de Porres. He fell ill on a visitation and died at Saña on 23 March 1606, which was Holy Thursday, having given away his belongings to the poor. He was canonised by Pope Benedict XIII in 1726. In 1983 St John Paul II named him patron of the bishops of Latin America.
He obeyed a call he thought himself unfit for.
He went to the sheep, however far they were.
He wanted each people to hear Christ in their own language.
A bishop has to speak for those who have no voice.
His visitations took him over the high Andes and through regions no bishop had visited. He is recorded as going on foot and by mule, often in danger and sleeping where he could, and spending about seventeen of his years as archbishop away from Lima on these journeys.
When people urged him to rest or questioned why he preached so long and travelled so far, he is said to have answered that time is not our own and that we must give a strict account of it.
He died during his last visitation at Saña, far from his cathedral. It is said that he had himself carried to the church to receive the Viaticum, and that he asked those around him to sing the psalm, I was glad when they said to me.
Time is not our own, and we must give a strict account of it.
Saying attributed to St Turibius of Mogrovejo, in substance
God calls whom he wills.
He lays down his life for the sheep (John 10:11).
We shall answer for how we use it.
Dear friends, imagine a lawyer and judge, a layman, being told that he is to be archbishop of a diocese on the other side of the world. St Turibius protested that he was not fit. He obeyed all the same, and he became one of the greatest bishops the Church has ever seen. Many of us know that feeling of being asked for more than we can do. God does not usually call those who feel ready.
Jesus says: I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep (John 10:11). Turibius took this literally. He spent about seventeen of his years on the road, over the Andes, on foot and by mule, to reach people who had never seen a bishop. He learned their languages. He stood up for them against the powerful, and he made sure a catechism was printed that they could read and hear in their own tongues.
He also knew that a Church needs good priests, so he built a seminary, and he called a council to put things in order. Holiness can be very practical. Among those he confirmed were St Rose of Lima and St Martin de Porres. Imagine how much the Church owes to one faithful, overworked man. When we pass on the faith to one child, we do not know what God may do through that child.
He used to say that time is not our own and that we must give a strict account of it. We too shall be asked how we used our time. At this Holy Mass / Holy Qurbana, let us pray for our bishops and priests, who carry heavy burdens. Let us pray for the people no one visits, and ask St Turibius to help us use the days we have for God and for those who wait for us. Amen.
O God, who gave your Church increase through the apostolic labours and zeal for truth of St Turibius, grant that those who are consecrated to your service may never tire of seeking the lost, and that your people may grow in faith and holiness. Amen.