ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi, æt ðɪ ˈeɪdʒ ʌv sˈɪkstiːn, hiː ˈɛntɚd ðə kˈaʊnsəlɚ sˈɛmɪnˌɛɹi ʌv ɐsˌʌnsɪˈɑːn, ænd ɡɹˈædjuːˌeɪɾᵻd sˈɪks jˈɪɹz lˈeɪɾɚ.
In 1880, at the age of 16, he entered the Counselor Seminary of Asunción, and graduated six years later.