Basque-born priest Fr. Aloysius Ellacuria, a reputed miracle worker who
ministered in Los Angeles for decades until his death in 1981, has
inspired efforts to open an inquiry into his cause for beatification.
“Fr. Aloysius was an example of holiness in every way.” Fr. Kevin Manion
of San Diego told CNA Feb. 27. “He leaves an incredibly heroic example
of love of God and missionary zeal which is most attractive for people
of today.”
Fr. Manion, who worked as Fr. Aloysius’ personal secretary from
1973-1981, said the priest showed “fidelity of purpose” and
“faithfulness to grace.”
“He was prayerful and pious since his infancy – with a special love of the Virgin Mary and the Rosary.”
Fr. Aloysius was born on June 21, 1905 in the city of Igorre in the
Basque region of Spain. He was baptized Juan Luis Ellacuria. He entered
the Claretian Missionaries at the age of 11 and was ordained a priest at
the age of 24. Soon after his ordination, he went to the United States
and served as a Greek and Latin professor.
He served as a novice director and a superior for the Claretians. He
founded the Missionaries of Perpetual Adoration in Fatima, Portugal to
help spread the message of Portugal.
Fr. Aloysious served as a formation director, a spiritual director and counselor for many people in need.
He founded twelve prayer groups, which he called guilds.
He worked for decades in the Los Angeles region before his death on April 6, 1981.
Many of those who knew the priest say God worked miracles of healing
through the priest and gave him special charisms like prophecy, reading
souls and expelling demons.
“Our Lord gave him the gift of miracles to lead people to the love of
God, and as such lay people and clerics, religious and even bishops,
sought his counsel and his prayers,” Fr. Manion said.
He added that after every reputed healing, Fr. Aloysius told people to make a good confession.
However. Fr. Manion he remembered Fr. Aloysius not because of the
reported miracles but because of his “very strong personality” and his
ability to be “the center of attraction without trying to be so.”
Fr. Aloysius was particularly effective in correcting those in doctrinal error, the priest said.
“He was not ‘wishy-washy” in any way at all. At the same time, he was
not brusque. He was not abusive. He was paternal, and he had a certain
authority.”
Fr. Manion added that Fr. Aloysius’ devotion was not surprising because
he was born in the fervently Catholic Basque province of Biscay. The
Basque provinces have produced dozens of canonized or beatified
Catholics including Jesuit founder St. Ignatius Loyola.
The priest’s life has been the subject of several books and the documentary movie “The Angel of Biscay.”
Many people have sought to open a formal church inquiry into the
beatification of Fr. Aloysius, but they lack resources and institutional
support to advocate for Fr. Aloysius.
The Claretians have decided not to actively pursue the beatification of
Fr. Aloysius, but have promised cooperation with any group that chooses
to. The order is still seeking to open beatification causes for over 200
of its members, mainly martyrs from the Spanish Civil War, and does not
have the resources to address the backlog.
The priest’s own actions helped delay his cause. He left instructions
that his personal papers, vital evidence for any inquiry, should be kept
confidential for 20 years.
Admirers of Fr. Aloysius continue to honor his memory. They will mark
the 32nd anniversary of his death this April 6 with a memorial Mass at
the old San Gabriel Mission in San Gabriel, Calif., where the priest is
buried.
A Catholic association to work for Fr. Aloysius' beatification and canonization is operating at the website www.aloysius.com