de la Flor Baja and where lived the rest of his life. He was a withdrawn and a modest man, of great charity and tireless devotion to work. He excelled as a preacher (though not for his oratorical skills) and as a regular confessor, which caused long lines of faithful who were looking for support and spiritual help. Despite the lack of brilliant human qualities, which contrasted with his housemates, his effectiveness and reputation grew quickly throughout the city. He was noted for his love of the poor, who came forward for help. He developed his evangelical work in towns and suburbs, and founded and organized several associations such as the "Guard of Honor of the Sacred Heart," the work of the "Marys of the Tabernacles", and social schools in Ventilla neighborhoods, aided by young teachers Juan and Demetrio de Andrés, known as "Ventilla martyrs" killed during the Civil War, 1936. He died in Madrid on May 2, 1929, sitting in a pine armchair, after directing that his spiritual notes be burned. When he died, the Archbishop of Madrid, Leopoldo Eijo y Garay, called him "apostle of Madrid" and wrote a pastoral letter on his example to the clergy of his diocese. His canonization During his life miraculous events were reported, such as bilocation, healings, prophecy and clairvoyance, some, perhaps legendary, but others ratified by numerous witnesses. What dominates is the testimony of his example and his word next to the message that holiness is available to all who simply surrender to the will of God. His ultimate favorite was: "Do what God wants and want what God does." Beatified by John Paul II in Rome (October 6, 1985) and canonized in Madrid by the same pontiff (May 4, 2003), his remains are venerated in the church of San Francisco de Borja and the Sacred Heart of the Society of Jesus in Madrid. The extraordinary fact, considered as a miracle by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in order for his canonization, was the healing of lung cancer of the Jesuit José Luis Gómez Munten (1988). Reflection by José María Rubio References Jesuit saints 1864 births 1929 deaths Spanish Roman Catholic saints 20th-century Christian saints Venerated Catholics by Pope John Paul II