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(1585-1645)
John Massias (Macias) was born in Spain on 2 March 1585. He was from a pious and noble, but impoverished Spanish family Orphaned young, he worked as a shepherd. He emigrated to Cartagena, South America, where he worked on a cattle ranch around Cartegena.
His desire to join a Dominican convent made him walk all his way on foot to Lima, where he applied for admission at the Dominican Convent of St. Mary Magdalen. He was received as a Dominican lay brother on the 23d of January, 1622; for though he was unknown, his piety, gravity and modesty convinced the superior of Massias’ sincerity. He worked as porter or doorkeeper of the convent for his friary for over 20 years. He was entrusted with the distribution of alms. No poor person ever approached Massias without receiving relief. All were astonished how a poor religious obtained the means of bestowing such alms. His charity was not confined to bodily wants; he daily instructed the poor who came to the door, in their catechism, and made them touching exhortations.
A severe illness, produced by his austerities, spread a general grief through Lima, followed by as general a joy at his recovery, for as he told one who came to weep beside him: "Stop! this vile worm is not ripe yet.”
His knowledge of the secrets of the heart, his insight into the future, and his zeal for God’s glory, enabled him to draw many from vice; none could resist his words; they felt that all was known to him.
Conversions of the most remarkable character are ascribed to the Blessed Massias. At last, after twenty-four years spent in the service of his neighbor by day, and in prayer and austerities by night, he was seized with a fatal malady in August, 1645, and after an illness of three weeks, during which he was visited by the most eminent persons of the city, died, as he had predicted, on the 16th of September. His death was no sooner known, than the convent was besieged; so eager were thousands to possess some of his relics that the body was saved with difficulty. After his solemn obsequies, his tomb was the resort of the afflicted. John Massias was beatified by Pope Pius VII in 1837 and canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1975.
Saint John Massias is noted for visions, for his care for the poor of Lima, and for his endless praying of the Rosary, offering all his prayers for the release of souls in Purgatory.
He was a friend of St Martin de Porres (1579-1639) and St Rose of Lima (1586-1617).
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