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Blessed José María Azurmendi Mugarza

Blessed José María Azurmendi Mugarza Also known as

José Azurmendi Larrìnaga

21 September
6 November as one of the Martyred Friars Minor of Granada

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Baptized on the day of his birth as it seemed that he and his twin brother, Agapito, might not survive the day. In his late teens, José felt a call to religious life, and became a Franciscan Friar Minor on 31 January 1887; he made his profession on 22 July 1891. He continued his studies, and was ordained a priest by Blessed Marcelo Spínola y Maestre on 30 May 1896.

Father José served first at the convent of Fuenteobejuna, and then, beginning in February 1900, at houses in the Holy Lands caring for the spiritual needs of the residents and pilgrims in Bethlehem, Haim Carem and Nazareth. He was appointed novice master in Bethlehem on 31 July 1902. Superior of the Rose Garden hospice near Alexandria, Egypt in September 1907, and then superior of the hospice in Damietta, Egypt in July 1908. José returned to Spain in the summer of 1913 where he served the next 23 years as spiritual teacher at various convents, and in administration of the Franciscan province. Martyred in the Spanish Civil War for the offense of being a priest.