Peru

2002, his community was Chosica, where he was a teacher and spiritual director at the college and curate in various Augustinian parishes. He made the simplicity of everyday life the path to holiness. In him was seen a possible and attainable holiness.

At Mass he made the mystery felt. When he was already in very poor health, they told him that it would be better to stop celebrating Mass. He replied: “If you don’t want me to die, let me celebrate it.” For almost sixty years in Chosica he was doing the same thing, the same tasks, the same services, the same practices and providing the same care — a man who did not attract attention for extraordinary events or for great academic titles. He simply knew how to live without ringing bells or setting off fireworks.

Fr. Serapio Rivero Nicolás, O.S.A, was born in 1917 in Spain. He was a few years old when he was confirmed — it was the custom of those times — and he made his first Communion. In his native town, he completed his primary studies until one day the Augustinian vocational leaders passed through Bercianos looking for children who wanted to go to their minor seminary. “I want to be an Augustinian like you” was his answer.

Assigned to Peru, the first year he was in the Chancay seminary house. From March 1944 to November 24,

He passed by on tiptoe — as Fr. Senén González, O.S.A. says — like a little ant and without making a sound. But he won the hearts of everyone, from the children of the Santa Rosa School who began to call him “Father Riverito” to the inhabitants and faithful of the parishes entrusted to the Augustinians who also called him that. As an Augustinian, he was a lover of the habit and felt a great sense of belonging to the Order and the Province, with devoted and sincere love for his brothers.

At his funeral, a group of people began to shout: “Riverito Santo.” The Peruvian vicariate eventually decided to promote his Cause.

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