(1803 - 1842)
OLOT – JANUARY 2016 – Num. 34
Modest Fluvià’s drawing
News Bulletin regarding the Canonization Cause of Venerable LLIBERADA FERRARONS i VIVÉS, Carmelite Tertiary, model of young workers.
THE REPUTATION FOR SAINTHOOD AND THE BASIS OF THE CAUSE FOR BEATIFICATION The first years after her death Considering that Lliberada was not a public person and was not relevant because of her culture or the notable actions she carried out, but rather was factory worker, poor and then ill, it is not surprising that the existing documentation is scarce and that the main vehicle for her memory has been, precisely, her reputation as a sainthood. It should be borne in mind that the Causes for beatification are basically comprised of three stages: The first, which consists of gathering proofs and documents relating to the life and virtues of the person in question. This stage is carried out by the diocese. In Lliberada’s case, this stage was not officially started –or opened–until 1942, one hundred years after her death and was regarded as finished in 1973. This work, generally a painstaking and slow task, fell mainly to the Historical Commission.
Lliberada’s kept objects by the Badia brothers. 2003 Photograph
The second stage starts when the Diocesan Tribunal ends and the documentation is sent to Rome, to the Congregation of Saints, which will study the material gathered and will appoint a Relator, who is in charge of presenting the Positio super virtutibus, a (generally voluminous) book or summation which sets out the documentation serving to prove the heroic virtues and argues them in a End of the work of the Historical Commission (1973) critical manner. The Relator is assisted by an external collaborator, who bears the brunt of the work, considering that each Relator usually handles various Causes. In our case, that collaborator shall be Father Pau M. Casadevall, of the Carmelite Order, who worked there for more than ten years and was presented by the Postulator-General, Father Redempte Valabek, also of the Carmelite Order. The Positio on Lliberada was completed in 1993.
The third stage was that of debate and evaluation, passing first through various groups of historical consultants and theologians who have to study the Positio and issue their vote. If it is favourable, it goes to the commission of Bishops and Cardinals, who take a definitive vote. The ultimate decision lies with the Pope. After the death of Lliberada, with a favourable mood for her reputation as a saint, backed by people, it was decided to make the life and virtues of the Servant of God known as soon as possible. Joan Calvó i Morató and Dr. Masmitjà, presents at the death of Lliberada, set things in motion.
“Positio” completed in 1993
Joan Calvó wrote a letter explaining the death and burial of the Servant of God, and he sent it to his friend in Girona Monsignor Joan Sala. But he also made copies, expanding upon and enriching each text with new contributions, until he compiled it all together in “Relation of the imponderable suffering, precious death and burial of the great Servant of God Lliberada Ferrarons y Vivés”. In 1842, Calvó worked hard making copies with addendums and sending them to friends and to important people throughout Catalonia. In his description, Calvó compared Lliberada to the great mystics, like Saint Catherine of Siena, Saint Teresa of Jesus, Saint Verònica Giuliani... On 1 November 1842, Dr. Masmitjà, who had a degree in Law and Canonical Law, and the priest rectors Vila and Rovira, who had been spiritual guides for the Servant of God, sent the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints in Rome a Relation, consisting of a twenty-some page document in Latin relating and bringing to light the virtues of Lliberada Ferrarons. While it was said that they did so through a sort of supernatural induction, Masmitjà said in his Relation that it had been written “to augment the accidental
Joan Calvó i Morató’s written letter in 1842
glory of God, to serve as consolation to those who read it in the midst of the difficulties of the Church in Spain, and to satisfy an obligation and settle a debt with justice”.
Just a year later, following the indications of the Archbishop Echanove of Tarragona, who was exiled in Rome, another shorter document -about twenty pages long- was sent to inform Pope Gregory XVI directly. It is said that after reading it, the Pope stated that he had no doubt that his successors would place Lliberada on an altar one day.
Other relevant people of the times who took an interest in the cause for Lliberada Ferrarons were Saint Antoni Maria Claret, Dr. Jaume Soler, Magistral Canon of Vic and then bishop of Teruel, Dr. Llucià Casadevall, bishop of Vic, Dr. Guardiola, bishop of Seu d’Urgell, the canon Arnautó of Girona... This shows that Lliberada’s fame was not only limited to Olot, but spread to other districts and to many other places, as Joan Calvó affirms, saying that many places asked for pieces of Lliberada’s clothing, considered to be relics, and rose leaves petals picked by her own hands. Monsignor Lluís Vila, in his letters to Father Bonavía, sets out numerous cases of people who had commended themselves in prayer to the Servant of God and who felt they had been favoured, alleviated or protected in their misfortunes and illnesses. Dr. Masmitjà himself tells the story of Jerònima Escubós, who “on merely smelling some rose petals that had belonged to the Servant of God, was cured of a long-term illness which had resisted all the remedies prescribed by various doctors in this town and in Barcelona”.
Dr. Joaquim Masmitjà, spiritual director of the last Lliberada
In a letter to Mr Josep de Trinxeria, Masmitjà states firmly: “Lliberada Ferrarons, and I have no fear of erring in what I say, from her earliest years until she gave her soul to the Creator, took giant steps on the road to Christian perfection, encrusting her soul with the gems of virtue (...) God took her and left us the consolation of her appeals and an exquisite model of sainthood”.
Text extracted from Section 1, Chapter 5 of the book: “Lliberada Ferrarons, una fe sempre jove” (Trans: “Lliberada Ferrarons, a faith forever young”) from Fr. Miquel Àngel Ferrés i Fluvià Barcelona, 2014, Ed. CPL
Father JAUME LLAGOSTERA i TORRENT, O.C. (Olot, 1910-2005)
F. Jaume Llagostera o.c.. Photo: ACGAX. Image Service. L’Olotí fonds
This Carmelite also known as the Carmel Friar, was during several years Vice Postulator for the Cause for the Beatification and Canonization of Lliberada Ferrarons and Vivès, and he was interested and totally dedicated while performing this role due two specific reasons: firstly, because Lliberada was born in Olot, as well as he was, and Olot was located between volcanoes. Secondly, because he was a Carmelite, and the Lord’s servant Lliberada had been in the Third Order. It should be pointed out that when the maid from Olot passed away on 21st June, she was shrouded with the Carmelite habit (which was brown, with a scapular and a hood, plus the cape and the white hood from the solemnities) due to her bound to the Third Order.
It was during this period, around Novemeber 1986, when the Vice Postulator Father Jaume Llagostera started to edit the informational bulletin of Lliberada Ferrarons, known as Butlletí informatiu Lliberada Ferrarons. Its main aim was to divulge the maid’s virtues and fame as a saint, pictured as a model among the young worker women. In the beginning it was a simple publication, just four pages, and it was focused on maintaining her religiously-wide-spread feeling of veneration and admiration. This feeling kept on throughout the years, since the moment of her death. Nowadays cities are religiously diverse. However, in that moment, during the late decades of the 20th century and the early 21st century, that diversity had not taken place yet, even though people kept arriving from all over the world: from South America, India and West European countries. Hence, the interest in the Cause was alive. One of the Vice Postulator’s roles was to endeavour the divulgation of the virtues from the Lord’s servant Lliberada, and to maintain her memory and the desire of a beatification and canonization that lasted as the years passed. There could not be any weaknesses, because beyond everything there was the certainty from all the Vice Postulators that Llibreada Ferrarons was worth the honour of
Father Jaume in the transfer of Lliberada’s remains 19th June 1966
the altars because of her exemplary life, marked by poverty and humility, work, sacrifice and sickness suffering, but with an unbreakable faith. This is the reason why Fr Jaume Llagostera was especially careful with the preparation of that bulletin, which was edited in a F. Jaume at the closing of the Diocesan process in 1973 regular basis in order to remember the biographical note sections from Lliberada Ferrarons. However, another reason was to let people know the steps done regarding the evolution of the Cause, as well as collecting received favours via Lliberada. The publication was simple, with no ambitions, but it perfectly succeeded in the established aims. Fr Llagostera dedicated several hours in the preparation those texts, photographs, control of donations received, etc, from every number of the bulletin. Once the printing work was done, it was still necessary to add the distribution of the publication, which was expected to go beyond the local area. Father Jaume Llagostera endeavoured his role as Vice Postulator since he passed away, at the beginning of January 2005. In his later years he had shared his work with Mn. Joan Baburés i Noguer, also from Olot, who became the canon and master of the ceremonies in the Cathedral of Girona. Father Jaume Llagostera was born on 23rd March 1910 in Olot, the capital city of Garrotxa, which bordered with France. He enrolled in Olot’s Carmel monastery at the age of 11. Afterwards he did the apprenticeship in Caudete (Albacete), where he did his first religious procession at the beginning of July 1927. He studied Philosophy and after that he went to El Henar (Segovia) in order to study Technology, which he ended in Barcelona. He professed on 23rd March 1931, in the monastery of El Henar. The following year he was given the subdiaconate. The ordination took place on 15th April 1933, and he sang in his first mass just five days after it, in the church of Mare de Déu del Carme. After a year, in the F. Jaume, vice-postulator, with an image of beginning of May 1934, he was sent Lliberada. Article published in 1993 in the Journal to Brazil, and he started his missionary of Girona on the occasion of the completion of the “positio”. Photo:Juli
work in Aimorés, in the state of Minas Gerais. In order to arrive in Amoirés, it was still necessary to go through the rainforest by riding a horse- Around January 1938 he went to the village of Resplandor, and he became the rector of its church in 1940 until 20 years later. He completed his priestly activity by defending social rights and humanity improvements. Due to the extension of the area given to the Carmelites in Vale do Rio Doce, it was necessary that Fr Jaume Llagostera and his religious brothers built up new churches, without forgetting his social labour. He helped to build new hospitals, schools and orphanages. He even contributed in setting up small villages that, with the passing years, have become big cities. In 1942 the Hospital Nossa Senhora do Carmo, in Resplandor, was founded, and F. Jaume at the opening of the II Centenary nowadays it is still running. There is a quotation of the Birth of Lliberada 19th April 2003. Next to him there was F. Felip from this hospital that says: foi fundado pelo Amenós (postulator) and ahead of Frei Jaime Maria Llagostera... com o objetivo de him, F. Joan Baburés (vicepostulator). ‘socorrer aos pobres locais e desamparados de Photo: X Espelt assistencia, and this is the reason why the village of Resplandor sees him as a preferred child. Around August 1953 he was appointed as the General Commissioner of the Carmelite Order in Brazil, and this meant that he was able to intensify his help towards those who needed it. In the provincial chapters of 1956, 1959 and 1962, his old charge was rectified and he always defended the native people’s rights in order to be able to become owners of their own lands, which where exploited by other chiefs. In 1954 he turned the new Carmelite seminary into a big fazenda. LLIBERADA FERRARONS, A FAITH FOREVER YOUNG
Miquel Àngel Ferrés i Fluvià This recent biography captures the life and virtues of this young Catalan worker with a present-day language, which gracefully unifies her history with people’s present-day life. The reader is placed in front of the simplicity of the faith of a young woman who lived in poverty and illness. It’s a catechetical book that pretends to capture the essence of Christian spirituality. At the same time, it’s another opportunity to get to know and love someone who many consider a saint. Liturgical Pastoral Centre. cpl@cpl.es | www.cpl.es 220 pàgines You can find it at: Diocesan Bookstore Casa Carles of Girona, in Plaça del Vi, n. 2 - 17004 Girona Tel. 972 41 28 78 - llibreria@bisbatgirona.cat and in other specialized bookstores
Because of a tropical illness he had to come back to Catalonia in 1962, and two years later he went to the monastery of Olot. There he did an intensive religious activity and he focused on the society’s needs, without forgetting to give sick people mental and spiritual support. He started to embellish the Carme church, and in several occasions he was elected as the prior. In 1974 he became the vicar of Sant Esteve church (in Olot) until he passed away. He never got rid of his Carmelite habit, and in few years he was a well-known and appreciated man among people from Olot. He took part in F. Jaume along with F. Joan Baburés and F. Francesc Jordà several entities that held assisting in the presentation of Auca Lliberada on 17th June 2004 aims, and with his help and hisavailability he was able to assure the continuity of Casal Marià, Adoració Nocturna, Conferències de Sant Vicenç de Paül, etc. When the Carme festivity took place (around July), his presence was necessary in all popular events. People danced the dragon, the chicken and the rabbit, which were festive figures that complemented theirs religious functions. He was often found walking through the city, quietly, and it was an obvious sign that he was going to give the viaticum to some sick person. He said that Mare de Déu del Tura was Olot’s patron saint, but that Carme was the main one. In 1998 he was given the speech of Festes del Tura and the following year the council distinguished him by giving him the responsibility of Vice Postulator of Cause for the Beatification and Canonization of Lliberada Ferrarons, to whom he was specially attached and he often talked about Positio and the improvements done in Rome. Fr Jaume Llagostera’s death was deeply heartfelt by his home town. Not many months later, around July 2005, he was remembered and honoured by putting a nameplate (designed by the sculptor Joan Farrés) next to the entrance of the Carme church. His relatives, friends, admirers and even the mayor attended the event. Even though the years have passed, his memory is still alive in the city as well in Brazil, where the foundation named after him is located.
Josep Murlà
NEWS/ RECEIVED LETTERS (fragments) . The last 3rd August 2015, the painter Xavier Carbonell Serra died at the age of 73 and had a Christian death. He was the one who, in 2003, made in an unselfishly way the poster for the celebration of the 200th anniversary of Lliberada Ferrarons’s birth. He was the one who painted the drawing for the stamp which was distributed on the occasion of the transfer of Lliberada’s mortal remains to the Archpriest Xavier Carbonell (1942-2015). Poster made by Published in the newspaper El Punt temple of Olot on the X. Carbonell in 2003 Avui. Photo: J. C. Historic Day 19th June1966. . On 5th September 2015 the sculptor Modest Fluvià i Aiguabella also died in a Christian way at the age of 90. In 2003, on the occasion of the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Lliberada Ferrarons, the Commission, that prepared this celebration, had asked Modest Fluvià to design a new image from Lliberada in order to make a bookmark. This was the first contact the committee had with the artist; and from Modest Fluvià then on, he wanted to join the Commission. (1925-2015) Until last year, he attended all the annual meetings and he unselfishly took part in all the orders he was asked for.
Commemorative Stamp of the II Centenary of the Birth of Lliberada, carried out by M. Fluvià 2003
. I would like to say to everyone who has faith or is looking for it, everyone who is anxious, going through sickness, sadness or familiar situations… Everyone who is going through any kind of problem or who just want to grow in Faith: embrace Lliberada Ferrarons. She always lived in the presence of God and the Mother of God, who she always loved, and in the presence of the Holy Trinity, which she adored. If we don’t ask her for anything, how can she assist us? Sister Maria Massana Mola. Nun of the Order St Claire of Olot (December 2013). . I’d ask you for a prayer, please. I am destroyed. I was about to marry my boyfrined and he left me. A pray first for him, who is lost in this world: he left the catholic church.
Let Mother Mary embrace him again. But I also want a prayer for myself. I am a grown adult and I wish to be a mother and a wife. Let God gift me with a family, which I’ll assure it will be catholic. Los Angeles – California (October 2014). . Beloved brothers in Christ. With the deepest love in my heart I would like to ask for a relic from Lliberada Ferrarons to have in my modest house in order to increase the faith of my family, since we are going through a very difficult time regarding my mother’s health. We believe in Lliberada Ferrarons’s spiritual help. I know she listens and helps us... Julio César Ramos Mendoza. Perú (August 2014). . Thanks; Greetings in the peace of God and his Mother. Dear Brother Joan Baburés i Noguer. With this letter I would like to express my gratitude to the Father Carmelite, postulator of the cause of Lliberada Ferrarons, and to you, the vicepostulator: thanks for your interest and prayers, as well as sending me books and magazines. Your book is wonderful. I apologise because it is my first time I contact you and I am doing it in Indonesian, since we speak little English and even less Spanish. Thanks to all of you: fathers, sisters and frays of the third Carmelite Order. Thanks to everyone. Hence, here you have our letter. Sorry for every mistake there may be. With lots of love: San, Lien, Anton, Yohan of Malang, Indonesia. Thanks for your attention. Indonesia (July 2014). . Brothers: I received with lots of joy the holy cards and the bulletin of Lliberada. I’m going to spread it here, in Argentina. I’ll pray. Thank you. If you want to send me more within the next bulletin, I will spread it among our devoted people in order to pray and know better her life and spread her work, until one day she is known as a saint. Thank you and God bless you. Ma. Paula Cacia. Argentina (May 2014). . Hello! I’m deacon. I’m Leonardo and I’m writting to you in order to ask for HEIRLOOMS and HOLY STAMPS of Venerable Lliberada Ferrarons. I have the intention of spreading them in my community, among the faithful ones, as a part of a campaign to encourage and increase the devotion towards saints. Brazil (June 2014). . I want to make a record in this email of my adiration and devotion towards our beloved Lliberada Ferrarons’s life: her testimony, her total devotion to God, her simplicity… Her hidden life in God provokes in my soul great wishes of saintliness. She is a clear sign of the God’s presence and his mercy to give us saints in order to support our faith and to lead us towards He. Lliberada Ferrarons makes us taking part in this Mercy and she is a great testimony of her total love for Jesus and his Church –a love that lead her to sacrifice her own life. Brazil (October 2014).
. By mail we have received letters requesting information, pictures and relics of the Venerable Lliberada. They came from: 2015. From January to June: BRAZIL (59), ARGENTINA (1), MEXICO (4), GUATEMALA (1), THE PHILIPPINES (2), LEÓN-SPAIN (1), PERU (1), COLOMBIA (1) 2014. From January to December: BRAZIL (121), ARGENTINA (3), MEXICO (2), THE PHILIPPINES (6), PERU (1), SOUTH AFRICA (1), PORTUGAL (1), CALIFORNIA-USA (2), TARRAGONA-SPAIN (1), EQUATOR (1), INDONESIA (1), HOLLAND (2), VENEZUELA (1), ILE DE LA REUNIONFRANCE (1), FLORIDA-USA (1), TENERIFE (1), ITALY (2).
FAVORS RECEIVED BY INTERCESSION OF THE VENERABLE LLIBERADA FERRARONS It’s convenient that those people whom may have entrusted grace in the intercession of Lliberada and have seen fulfilled their wish, report it to the Vicepostulator. For this reason and to give faith that the fame of Holiness of the Servant of God still remains, we would appreciate your contributions which we will post right here. • Obtained grace from the intercession of Lliberada Ferrarons. “I broke my when I fell down. I got surgery and they put me a “total hip prosthesis”. The recovery was very slow, but normal. A sister from the comunity let me know that she prayed every day for my health in front of the tomb of Lliberada at the church of Saint Esteve in Olot. I thought it would be a good idea to join her in that prayer all together from the Convent. After a novena I felt a great physical and moral improvement. When I went to my doctor’s appointment, the one who operated on me, and he checked me out, she exlcaimed: Very good, very good!” Nun Maria Massana. Nun of the Order Saint Claire (December 2013).
DONATIONS FOR LLIBERADA FERRARONS’ CANONIZATION CAUSE Donations from January 2014 to June 2015: Anonymous donations, 20 + 50 = 70€ Sum of donations collected in the boxes of different churches, 1028,66€ Stations of the Cross at Sant Francesc hermitage, 282,61€ + 248.53€ = 531,14€ Donations at the opening of the exhibition room, 85,80€ Carme Isern Vilardell, 30€; Divina Providència Olot, 40€.
PRAYER TO RECEIVE FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT THE CANONIZATION OF THE VENERABLE LLIBERADA FERRARONS Oh Holy Spirit, comfortness and saint-ness for souls, having brought joy and comfort to Lliberada Ferrarons’ angelical soul, Carmelite Tertiary, with the treasure of your gifts, and she, as a faithful administrator, distributed them to the poor and afflicted, while doing goodness on Earth, please do that her effective intercession for us, sinners, and by means of the wonders performed by your Servant, we experience how warm and comforting your love is! Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be. With ecclesiastical approval. To send your received thankfulness, as well as for sending donations in order to defray the costs of the Canonization Cause, you may address yourselves to: Vicepostulator: Fr. Joan Baburés i Noguer Cúria Diocesana, Plaça del Vi, 2 - 17004 GIRONA Tel. + 34 972 41 27 20 / +34 639 26 92 81 lliberada@lliberada.org Lliberada Ferrarons Cause, Carmelite Fathers Verge del Portal, 10 – 17800 OLOT (GIRONA) - Tel. +34 972 26 05 93 Banc de Sabadell: ES25.0081.7025.5500.0108.2412 You can find information on the website: http://www.lliberada.org and on the blog: http://lliberadaferrarons.blogspot.com