Originally from Spain, John Massias emigrated to Peru where he became a Dominican lay brother at the convent of Lima. A charitable porter and mystic, he was famous for his devotion to the souls in purgatory and his miracles of multiplying food for the poor.
Guided reading
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THE B. JOHN MASSIAS OF SPAIN, DOMINICAN RELIGIOUS
Youth and early visions
Born in Extremadura in 1585, John Massias became an orphan early on and worked as a shepherd, benefiting from protective visions of Saint John the Evangelist.
AT THE MONASTERY OF SAINT MARY MAGDALENE IN LIMA ( 1643). John Jean Massias Spanish Dominican friar and missionary in Peru. Massias was b orn in Extrem l'Estramadure Region of the saint's birth in Spain. adura on March 2, 1 585: Philip Philippe II King of Spain involved in the sack of Saint-Quentin. II reigned in Spain an d Gregory XII Grégoire XIII Pope who confirmed the Congregation of the Oratory in 1575. I occupied the papal throne. The Blessed lost his parents early on, and he remained with his sister under the protection of his uncles. As soon as he reached the age of reason, he was entrusted with the care of the flocks, and in the middle of the fields where he led them to graze, he occupied his time in prayer and meditation. One day he saw a child of remarkable beauty appear near him, who said to him: "I am Saint John the Evange saint Jean l'Évangéliste Appears with the Virgin to instruct Gregory. list; God has entrusted you to my care because of your piety, so have no fear." He explained to the child, who was unaware of it, who he was, and, appearing to him again a few days later, he led him in spirit to heaven, his homeland. These apparitions were often renewed, and the protection of his guardian manifested itself in numerous circumstances in a visible and miraculous way.
Journey to America and entry into religious life
After traveling through Spain and America, he settled in Lima where he entered the Dominican Order as a lay brother in 1623.
Later, the Blessed traveled; he saw Jerez, Seville, and left for America with a merchant who took him into his service. When he arrived, this merchant dismissed him under the pretext that he was not sufficiently educated to fulfill the office with which he had entrusted him. John Massias wandered for a long time through America, then, fi nall Lima Capital of Peru and the saint's primary place of residence. y, arrived in Lima, where God wished to sacrifice him. He had traveled nine hundred leagues through the wilderness and had endured incredible privations. In Lima, he returned to his first trade; for two years God blessed and multiplied the flocks of the master who had taken him into his service. These two years having passed, Heaven inspired in the Bl essed the d Dominicains Religious order to which Magdeleine belonged. esire to enter the Dominican Order: he was thirt y-six years old when he was receive couvent de Sainte-Madeleine de Lima Place of religious life of the saint in Lima. d at the convent of Saint Mary Magdalene in Lima. In the month of January 1623, he pronounced his vows as a lay brother, and the office of porter was entrusted to him.
Mortifications and austerities
Brother John imposed extreme penances upon himself, including fasts, vigils, and the wearing of hairshirts and iron chains.
From then on, Brother John Massias entered resolutely into the path of mortifications and austerities. He granted his body only what was absolutely necessary to keep from dying. He frequently disciplined himself, spent his nights in prayer, and wore rough hairshirts and iron chains. These austerities soon reduced him to an extreme state; he was seen walking all hunched over and limping. Toward the end of his life, his superiors having obliged him to treat himself less harshly and to set aside his hairshirts, he managed to hide a chain that he continued to wear.
Charity towards the poor
As the convent porter, he multiplied alms and miracles, receiving help from the Virgin to feed the indigent.
As harsh as he was to himself, he was equally gentle and charitable towards others. As porter, he was in charge of distributing the convent's alms, and it was a pleasure to see with what kindness and affability he treated his dear poor. For persons of a higher station whom misfortune had reduced to indigence, in order to spare them the humiliation of receiving alms at the convent door, he would have them enter a separate room where their meal was prepared. He served them on his knees, as he would have served Jesus Christ. The convent was not wealthy, and very often heaven performed miracles on behalf of Jean Massias. Bread multiplied in his hands. At other times, he would address the Blessed Virgin, who would indicate to him the peo ple in the ci sainte Vierge Mother of Jesus, who appeared to Bertrand. ty from whom he could ask. He would go to them and always receive what he needed. When he experienced a refusal, heaven would avenge that refusal, as happened to a merchant who had not given him what he had asked for, and whose house remained completely empty of buyers until he had repaired his fault.
Devotion to the souls in purgatory
He dedicated his prayers and sufferings to the deliverance of the souls in purgatory who appeared to him to ask for his intercession.
Often in a chapel of the Blessed Virgin where he spent the night in prayer, the soul s in purgatory wou âmes du purgatoire State of post-mortem purification central to commemoration. ld appear to him and beg him to intercede for them, to offer his austerities to God on their behalf. Then the Blessed one would redouble his mortifications and his prayers, so much did charity inflame his heart. When one of these souls had obtained its deliverance, it would come to thank him, and the joy of these souls having reached the happiness of heaven was his sweetest and best reward. We shall not speak of the miracles that the Blessed one performed during his life; they were very numerous and striking.
End of life and recognition
Jean Massias died in Lima in 1645 at the age of 60 and was beatified by Gregory XVI in 1836.
Finally, the hour of his death arrived. It was on September 16, 1645, that, fortified by the sacraments of the Church, he rendered his soul to God. He was sixty years, six months, and fifteen day Grégoire XVI Pope who established the liturgical feast of the blessed. s old. In 1836, Gregory XVI beatified him. The Order of Saint Dominic celebr ates his fe Bibadencira Hagiographer cited as a source. ast day on October 3.
Cf. Bibadencira, *Lives of the Saints*; and Abbé Daras, *Little Flowers of the Cloister*.
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Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Born in Extremadura on March 2, 1585
- Apparition of Saint John the Evangelist during his childhood
- Voyage to America in the service of a merchant
- Arrival in Lima after a nine-hundred-league journey
- Entered the Dominican Order at the Convent of Saint Mary Magdalene in Lima at age 36
- Profession of vows as a lay brother in January 1623
- Beatification by Gregory XVI in 1836
Miracles
- Multiplication of bread during the distribution of alms
- Visions and deliverance of souls from Purgatory
- Divine punishment of a merchant who refused to give alms
- Frequent apparitions of Saint John the Evangelist
Quotes
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I am Saint John the Evangelist; God has entrusted you to my care because of your piety, so have no fear.
Words of the apparition