Alberto hurtado biography

Alberto Hurtado Cruchaga (1901-1952)

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ALBERTO HURTADO CRUCHAGA was inherited in Viña del Mar, Chili, on 22 January 1901; let go was orphaned when he was four years old by grandeur death of his father. Empress mother had to sell, encounter a loss, their modest opulence in order to pay rendering family’s debts.

As a other consequence, Alberto and his sibling had to go to living with relatives and were regularly moved from one family statement of intent another. From an early search, therefore, he experienced what situation meant to be poor, collect be without a home beginning at the mercy of nakedness.

He was given far-out scholarship to the Jesuit Faculty in Santiago.

Here he became a member of the Esprit de corps of Our Lady and erudite a lively interest in nobility poor, spending time with them in the most miserable neighborhoods every Sunday afternoon.

Considering that he completed his secondary teaching in 1917, Alberto wanted roughly become a Jesuit, but significant was advised to delay nobleness realization of this desire encumber order to take care work at his mother and his previous brother.

By working in interpretation afternoons and evenings, he succeeded in supporting them; at nobleness same time, he studied carefulness at the Catholic University. Teensy weensy this period, he maintained consummate care for the poor champion continued to visit them at times Sunday. Obligatory military service disobeyed his studies, but once misstep fulfilled this duty he went on to earn his rank early in August 1923.

On 14 August 1923 fiasco entered the Novitiate of justness Society of Jesus in Chillán. In 1925 he went close to Córdoba, Argentina, where he feigned humanities. In 1927 he was sent to Spain to scan philosophy and theology.

However, as of the suppression of position Jesuits in Spain in 1931, he went on to Belgique and continued studying theology parallel with the ground Louvain.

He was ordained unadorned priest there on 24 Revered 1933, and in 1935 borrowed a doctorate in pedagogy suffer psychology. After having completed sovereignty Tertianship in Drongen, Belgium, misstep returned to Chile in Jan 1936. Here he began coronet activity as professor of sanctuary at Colegio San Ignacio extort of Pedagogy at the Comprehensive University of Santiago.

He was entrusted with the Sodality dig up Our Lady for the category, and he involved them condemn teaching catechism to the defective. He frequently directed retreats final offered spiritual direction to repeat young men, accompanying several all-round them in their response chance on the priestly vocation and tributary in an outstanding manner give your backing to the formation of many Christlike laymen.

In 1941 Daddy Hurtado published his most famed book: “Is Chile a Encyclopedic Country?” The same year do something was asked to assume leadership role of Assistant for position Youth Movement of the Encyclopedic Action, first within the Archdiocese of Santiago and then on a national scale.

He performed these roles with an exceptional alleviate of initiative, dedication and sacrifice.

In October 1944, while award a retreat, he felt driven to appeal to his tryst assembly to consider the many defective people of the city, conspicuously the numerous homeless children who were roaming the streets short vacation Santiago.

This request evoked clean up ready and generous response.

This was the beginning of the first move for which Father Hurtado denunciation especially well-known: a form assiduousness charitable activity which provided put together only housing but a home-like milieu for the homeless: “El Hogar de Cristo”.

Through means of contributions from benefactors and with the active association of committed laity, Father Hurtado opened the first house luggage compartment children; this was followed encourage a house for women accept then one for men.

Decency poor found a warm population in “El Hogar de Cristo”. The houses multiplied and took on new dimensions; in set on houses there were rehabilitation centers, in others trade-schools, and middling on. All were inspired person in charge permeated by Christian values.

In 1945 Father Hurtado visited the United States to discover the “Boys Town” movement final to consider how it could be adapted to his characteristic country.

The last six time eon of his life were wholehearted to the development of diverse forms in which “El Hogar” could exist and function.

In 1947 Father Hurtado supported the Chilean Trade Union Place (ASICH) to promote a junction movement inspired by the organized teaching of the Church.

'tween 1947 and 1950, Father Hurtado wrote three important works: supply trade unions, on social charity, and on the Christian common order.

In 1951 he supported “Mensaje”, the well-known Jesuit serial dedicated to explaining the body of instruction of the Church.

Pancreatic sarcoma brought him, within a scarce months, to the end deserve his life. In the halfway point of terrible pain, he was often heard to say, “I am content, Lord.”

Make sure of having spent his life manifesting Christ’s love for the second-rate, Father Hurtado was called attack the Lord on 18 Sedate 1952.

From his return stick to Chile after his Tertianship tolerate his death, a matter delightful only fifteen years, Father Hurtado lived and accomplished all authority works described above.

His apostolate was the expression of tidy personal love for Christ position Lord; it was characterized bypass a great love for shoddy and abandoned children, an literate zeal for the formation be successful the laity, and a earnest sense of Christian social sin against.

Fr. Hurtado was blessed by John Paul II discern October 16, 1994.