Day 348 -- Saint Alberto Hurtado Cruchaga

"I am happy, Lord."

I first learned of Saint Alberto Hurtado Cruchaga when a friend went to Chile and she brought a rosary I made her out of red, white, and blue twine. Those are the same colors as the Chilean flag and she said the kids loved the rosary. Saint Hurtado was born on January 22, 1901 in Vina del Mar, Chile. His father died when he was only four years old and he grew up in poverty. He was educated in the Jesuit College in Santiago. He felt a call early in life to religious life and entered the Jesuit novitiate in 1923 and was ordained ten years later. He taught religion and trained teachers, led retreats for young men and worked in the poor areas of the city. In 1944 he became the chaplain of Catholic Action. In 1947 he founded the Chilean Trade Union Association. He died of pancreatic cancer on August 18, 1952 in Santiago. He was canonized on October 23, 2005 by Pope Benedict XVI.