In December, the formal initiation of the cause of Jorge María Salvaire, CM will be presented to the Congregation of Saints. The Congregation of the Mission has been offered the position of acting as “Promotor” of the Cause. The following background material will be helpful in understanding why his cause is proceeding.
Jorge María Salvaire, CM: The Unforgettable Chaplain at the Shrine of Our Lady of Luján (1847-1899)
Jorge was born in Castres (France) on January 6, 1847. In 1866, he entered the Internal Seminary of the Congregation of the Mission located in Paris and on June 4th, 1871 he was ordained to the priesthood. In October of that same year he arrived in Buenos Aires. On December 3rd, the Archbishop of that city organized the first pilgrimage to Luján … a pilgrimage that was motivated by the end of the yellow fever epidemic. That was Jorge’s first contact with Our Lady of Luján. Upon his return to the city, Jorge said to his companions, this jewel needs a new coffer — alluding to the need to build a new shrine that would replace the existing structure.
In January 1872, the Vincentians took charge of the pastoral administration of the Shrine at Luján and on May 9th of the same year, Salvaire was appointed as a pastoral assistant to Father Eusebio Fréret (pastor). Two years later Father departed for the mission in Azul where he began the process of evangelizing the indigenous people who were led of Cipriano Catriel and later, reached out to those people of another tribe being led by José María Railef (Bragado) and Ignacio Coliqueo (Los Toldos).
In November 1875, he reached out to another group that was led by Manuel Namuncurá and hoped to be able to rescue certain captives … he also intended to explore the possibility of expanding his mission to include these people. There, facerd with imminent death, he made a vow the Virgin of Luján promising that if he were saved, he would write a history about Our Lady of Luján, would promote devotion to her and would build a new shrine. When he returned to Luján in 1885, he published his famous work: Historia de Nuestra Señora de Luján. Su origen, su santuario, sus milagros y su culto [History of Our Lady of Luján: its origin, its shrine, miracles and devotion].
In 1866 he traveled to Rome. He had been commissioned by the bishops of Argentina to request Pope Leo XIII to bless the crown of the Virgin of Luján. Father Salvaire was able to obtain other pontifical privileges for the Shrine at Luján. The pontifical coronation of the sacred image took place on May 8th, 1887. On May 25th, 1889 Father Jorge was appointed as chaplain at the Shrine. Then, on January 6th, he began to publish the magazine La Perla del Plata and on May 6th began construction of the National Basilica.
Father Salvaire established the Archconfraternity of Our Lady of Luján, the Vincentian Conferences of men and women and the Catholic Circle of Workers. He was the primary promotor of devotion at the Shrine and collaborated in the establishment of the hospital. He was a very significant figure in the religious history of Argentina, a tireless apostle of Our Lady of Luján (he promoted devotion to the Virgin in Uruguay and Paraguay).
The Bishops of Argentina, in a letter addressed to Pope Leo XIII (1898), referred to the qualities of Father Salvaire and stated:
this virtuous priest is very praiseworthy … so exemplary and enlightened and universally appreciated. In addition to being an indefatigable missionary among the Indians from 1875 to 1884, he has received our gratitude as well as the esteem of the faithful for his constant and extraordinary efforts and ardent zeal in promoting in a prodigious way devotion to Our Lady of Luján throughout the country … becoming its Apostle. Indeed, his indefatigable and enlightened zeal reenkindled this devotion in such a manner that today it is remarkable to witness the extraordinary number of pilgrims who visit this Shrine. Furthermore, he has received great recognition through writing his monumental history of the Virgin of Luján, through promoting and organizing the solemn coronation of said Image and through initiating the building project of the monumental Basilica now under construction and brought to the current state of progress by his tireless and constant effort. We have all received so many merits through this enlightened son of Saint Vincent de Paul that we are now moved to ask Your Holiness to promote this current Chaplain to the dignity of titular Bishop (as a reward for his enlightened services and as an honor for the Shrine of Our Lady of Luján.
He died very unexpectedly on February 4th, 1899 at the age of fifty-two. As he contemplated the face of the Blessed Mother his final words were: O my Jesus, I believe in you and I love you! I place my hope in you, O Blessed Virgin of Luján! Amen. His body was buried in the Shrine, under the altar of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.
The inscription on his gravestone synthesizes his admirable life: Here rests Jorge María Salvaire, priest of the Congregation of the Mission, tireless and illustrious promotor of devotion to Our Lady of Luján and initiator of the construction of this Shrine. All the inhabitants of Luján, who during eleven years were shown the way to attain virtue, consecrate this place in loving memory of him!
Information about the cause for the canonization of Father Jorge María Salvaire, CM (1847-1899)
The cause is presently in its diocesan phase and the following steps have been taken:
[1] In accordance with the current norms as stipulated in the Code of Canon Law, in 2015 the Presbyterial Council of the Archdiocese of Mercedes-Lujan was consulted about the matter of initiating the cause for canonization; the forty members of the Episcopal Conference of Argentina (including four cardinals) were also consulted … all responded favorably.
[2] The superior general of the Congregation, Father Gregory Gay, CM, was also consulted with regard to any disqualifying material in the Archives at the General Curia. Father Gregory stated: I state that there is nothing in our archives that would be prejudicial to the forward progress of this process (Rome, May 25th, 2015). The Provincial House in Buenos Aires was then notified about the beginning of the process.
[3] The announcement about the initiation of the cause was made on May 8th, 2016 – the feast of the Virgin of Luján, Patroness of the Republic of Argentina. This announcement was made in the morning at the Cathedral of Buenos Aires and in the afternoon at the Basilica of Luján.
[4] Ricardo Corleto, OAR was appointed Postulator of the Cause and Dr. Juan Guillermo Durán as President of the Historical-Archival Commission; other members of this commission are: Dr. María Isabel de Ruschi Crespo, Dr. Federico Tavelli, and Fr. Dr. Pablo Nazareno Pastrone; appointed as consultor, Prof. Oscar Andrés De Massi (Librarian at the Provincial House of the Congregation of the Mission in Buenos Aires).
[5] The above mentioned commission has been charged with coming together and evaluating and digitalizing all available documents with regard to Father Salvaire in order to develop the presentation of the cause to the Congregation of Saints. This material should include a biography, letters, reports, writings, newspaper reports, ministerial activity, priestly profile, etc.
[6] It is estimated that the diocesan process will conclude at the end of 2017.
[7] At the present time much has been done to make the person of Father Salvaire known throughout the country: biographies have been published and a small edition titled Vida Popular (Popular Life) has been distributed in the Sanctuary at Luján, in the parishes, in the Catholic schools, and among the members of the various apostolic movements.
[8] A three hundred page book has been published about the life and the work of Father Salvaire entitled: Jorge María Salvaire, CM: Gran Apóstol de la Virgen de Luján (Jorge María Salvaire, CM: Great Apostle of the Virgen of Luján), Ediciones Talitakum, Buenos Aires, 2016.
[9] On December 8th (the feast of the Immaculate Conception), holy cards, with the prayer requesting the grace for canonization, will be distributed in the Basilica at Luján and in all the parishes of the Archdiocese of Mercedes-Luján.
[10] Some years ago Bishop Juan Guillermo Durán wrote a biography of Father Salvaire (now Servant of God) … this biography is composed of four volumes.
[11] In December, the formal initiation of the cause will be presented to the Congregation of Saints.
[12] The Congregation of the Mission has been offered the position of acting as “coactor” of the Cause … the response of the new superior general is pending.
Translated: Charles T. Plock, CM
