Saint Joseph Oriol

Also known as
José Orioli
Thaumaturgus of Barcelona
Wonder Worker of Barcelona
Memorial
23 March
Profile
Born poor. Studied at the University of Barcelona. Doctor of theology on 1 August 1674. Ordained 30 May 1676. Pilgrim to Rome in 1686. Pope Innocent XI granted him a benefice at Santa Maria del Pino (Our Lady of the Pines), Barcelona, a parish he served for the rest of his life.

Wanted to evangelize infidels, and give himself over to martyrdom. On his way to Rome in April 1698 to ask to be a missionary, Joseph fell ill at Marseilles, and had a vision that gave him a new mission - revitalize the faith in his own back yard.

Returning home, he worked with the youngest of children and roughest of soldiers, and prayed without ceasing for the living and the dead. He wore a hair-shirt; lived for 26 years, half his life, solely on bread and water. Famed confessor, prophet, healer, and miracle worker, though many of the writers in his day and after have made him sound like some kind of medium or magician or somesuch.
Born
23 November 1650 at Barcelona, Spain
Died
23 March 1702 at Barcelona, Spain of natural causes
predicted the date of his own death
some locals lent him a bed to die on as he had always slept on a wooden bench or whatever was handy
Name Meaning
whom the Lord adds (Joseph)
Beatified
15 May 1896 by Pope Pius VII
Canonized
20 May 1909 by Pope Pius X
Additional Information
Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
Catholic Encyclopedia For All The Saints
Our Sunday Visitor's Encyclopedia of Saints, by Matthew Bunson, Margaret Bunson, and Stephen Bunson
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