May 11: Blessed Ceferino Namuncurá

Blessed Ceferino Namuncurá, 1884 – 1905

By Father Noriega, SDB – Translation by Father Albeiro Rodas, SDB

The “Ceferino Phenomenon”

Ceferino Namuncurá has been a gift of God. A precious and free gift of God for his aboriginal, forgotten and suffered race, for his homeland, Argentina, for Latin America, for all the world. As it happened with many Biblical characters, the Lord saw with goodness the humbleness of the aboriginal Mapuche and He wanted to do by his mediation great things.

Ceferino was born in 1886 when his father, Manuel Namuncurá, maximum Araucan leader (“Cacique” in South America), was already pacified by the national army. And Ceferino was born in a moment of our history, during the Illustration, the science without God that was looking for followers in our well known progressive Generation of the 80s. These are things of God, from His plans – no from human plans – and His fecund and free Grace: “He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly.” (Luke 1: 51-52.)

Without doubt and easy to prove in any latitude, there is in our country since some years ago, what it is called the “Ceferino Phenomenon”. People speak about him, want to know him, he is invocated, they bring his medal or his portrait, his image is everywhere. He has more fans than Boca or River, more admirers than Carlos Gardel or Difunta Correa… He came into his people and enjoys the prestigious of a symbol. He gives graces and works “miracles” in abundance…

It is also true than in many times his name and his protection is associated with elements of magic, superstition and fetishism. But there is not doubt that our good Ceferino has become a surprising spiritual and consolatory phenomenon during the last decades and that he has broken records very fast and with much popularity.

We have to ask: Would be this sudden “Phenomenon” only a popular fashion, just superstition, ignorance, just expression of a popular religiosity with not sense? Surely there are also deviations that the Church must purify and make clear. But in all of this there is also the hand of God, giving purity and strength. The Catholic Church, through her highest and specialized organisms, is studying the life of Ceferino since 1945, carefully and with dedication, as it is common in Rome. On June 1972 the Holy Father Paul VI promulgated the Decree in which He declared Ceferino as a Venerable, a very important step for his Beatification.

Biography

Ceferino Namuncurá was born in Chimpay, Rio Negro Province, Argentina, on August 26, 1886 and he was baptized two years later by the Apostle of the Indigenous people, the Salesian Missionary Father Domingo Milanesio.

He was the son of the famous Araucan Chief (Cacique in South America), Manuel Namuncurá (after he would receive the title of Colonel by the Argentinean goverment) and he was called the “King of the Pampa” by the indigenous peoples. The initially name was Morales, but his changed it to “Ceferino.” When the boy was 11, Manuel decided that his son should study in Buenos Aires to be able to help his people, the Mapuches.

His mother, Rosario, a young woman from Chile, used to say: “Ceferino, since he was very small, used to think as a grown man already.” Thanks to the help of Mgr Cagliero, the boy was accepted in the Pio IX Salesian College in Buenos Aires. He received there his First Communion on September 8, 1898. Since then, he became an angel of love to Jesus and to Mary.

Studying the Catechism, he dreamt to be a missionary of his people that was living in the mountains.

Problems of health made him to move from Buenos Aires to Viedma where he continued his studies with much dedication getting the admiration of many for his virtues.

In 1904 he was brought to Turin and Rome by Mgr Cagliero, Bishop of the Patagonia and later Cardinal.

In the Italian schools, Ceferino was surprising for companions and teachers for his admirable behavior, his deep piety and his life as a model of virtues. Especially in his long sickness was proven his holiness. Witnesses in the “Fatebenefratelli” Hospital said that Ceferino never lamented, asked nothing and was helpful to others, giving courage and consolation.

Cerefeino returned to the House of the Father during the morning of May 11, 1905, when he was only 18 years and 9 months old. His salm was buried in Rome, but in 1924 was brought back to Argentina and placed in a small chapel in Fortín Mercedes, but after moved to the Sanctuary of Mary Help of Christians in that city. SOURCE