Saint Rafael Arnáiz Barón

Also known as

• María Rafael

Memorial

• 26 April

Profile

An artistic young man, he studied architecture in Madrid, Spain. However, he felt a call to the religious life, and on 15 April 1934 Rafael became an oblate friar of the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance (Trappist). Suffered from acute diabetes, a condition that forced him to leave the monastery three times, but each time, as soon as he was sufficiently healed, he returned to the monastic life.

Born

• 9 April 1911 in Burgos, Spain

Died

• 26 April 1938 in Dueñas, Palencia, Spain

Venerated

• 7 September 1989 by Pope John Paul II (decree on heroic virtues)

Beatified

• 27 September 1992 by Pope John Paul II

Canonized

• 11 October 2009 by Pope Benedict XVI

Patronage

• against diabetes
• diabetics
• World Youth Day 2011

Additional Information

• Abadia Cisterciense de S. Isidro de Dueñas
• Hagiography Circle

MLA Citation

• “Saint Rafael Arnáiz Barón”. Saints.SQPN.com. 25 October 2010. Web. 21 May 2013. <http://saints.sqpn.com/saint-rafael-arnaiz-baron/>