St. Turibius of Mogrovejo (1538–1606) was a Spanish lawyer who, while still a layman, was named Archbishop of Lima, Peru; ordained a priest and bishop for the task, he spent twenty-five years traveling tens of thousands of miles on foot and by mule through mountains and jungles to visit his people, learned their native languages, defended the indigenous peoples against abuse, and founded the first seminary in the Americas. He confirmed two future saints, Rose of Lima and Martin de Porres. Pope St. John Paul II named him patron of the bishops of Latin America. His feast day is March 23. Below are his story, Scripture and a prayer to St. Turibius.
A short prayer to St. Turibius, written for this page:
St. Turibius, you walked the mountains of Peru to find and serve every soul entrusted to you.
Pray for bishops and priests, for the peoples of Latin America,
and for all who defend the dignity of the poor. Amen.
Who was St. Turibius?
Toribio Alfonso de Mogrovejo was born in 1538 at Mayorga, in the kingdom of León, Spain, into a noble family. He studied law at Valladolid and Salamanca and became a respected professor and judge of the Inquisition court in Granada. In 1579 King Philip II nominated him, still a layman, as Archbishop of Lima, in the vast and troubled viceroyalty of Peru. He protested that it was against Church law to make a layman a bishop, but finally accepted; he received all the orders and was consecrated in 1580, and arrived in Lima in 1581.
His diocese stretched for hundreds of miles over the Andes. He visited it three times, once for seven years, often on foot, learning Quechua so he could preach and hear confessions in it, and confirming, according to tradition, half a million people. He called the Third Council of Lima (1582–1583), which published a catechism in Spanish, Quechua and Aymara, opposed the exploitation of the indigenous peoples by Spanish colonists, founded hospitals, churches and, in 1591, the first seminary of the Americas. He died on March 23, 1606, at Saña, during a pastoral visit. He was canonized in 1726.
Scripture
The Good Shepherd’s care for every sheep (John 10:16, Douay-Rheims):
And other sheep I have, that are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd.
What is St. Turibius the patron saint of?
- The bishops of Latin America, named by Pope John Paul II in 1983
- Invoked as a defender of the rights of indigenous peoples
Feast day
The optional memorial of St. Turibius of Mogrovejo, bishop, is March 23, the day of his death.
Frequently asked questions
Who was St. Turibius of Mogrovejo?
A Spanish lawyer who became Archbishop of Lima in 1580 and spent his life serving the peoples of Peru.
Which saints did St. Turibius confirm?
St. Rose of Lima and, according to tradition, St. Martin de Porres.
When is his feast day?
March 23.
More saints
- St. Rose of Lima prayer
- St. Martin de Porres prayer
- St. Peter Claver
- St. Junípero Serra
- Our Lady of Guadalupe
- Saint of the day
Texts and sources
- John 10:16 (Douay-Rheims).