Blessed Bernard of Hoyos

Bernardo Francisco de Hoyos de Seña, SJ (21 August 1711 – 29 November 1735), best known simply as Bernardo de Hoyos, was a Spanish Catholic priest, mystic and member of the Society of Jesus. He is best known for his ardent devotion to the Sacred Heart and for his constant promotion of it until his premature death. His beatification by the Catholic Church was held in Valladolid on 18 April 2010. Bernardo Francisco de Hoyos de Seña was born on 21 August 1711 to Don Manuel de Hoyos and Doña Francisca de Seña. He was baptized on 6 September in his local parish church in the names of "Bernardo Francisco Javier"; he was named in honor of Bernard of Clairvaux and Francis Xavier. His father worked at the town hall at Torrelobatón near Valladolid. He received his Confirmation in 1720. He entered the Jesuit colleges of Medina del Campo and Villagarcía de Campos and later entered the novitiate under the direction of Félix de Vargas on 11 July 1726. He took his simple vows in 1728. He underwent philosophical studies at the College of San Pedro y San Pablo in Medina del Campo. In September 1731 he started began his theological studies at the College of San Ambrosio in Valladolid. He had spiritual experiences and revelations about the Sacred Heart of Jesus that led him to spread this devotion and worship. He was ordained to the priesthood on 2 January 1735 with a special dispensation as he was not old enough. On 6 January 1735 he celebrated his first Mass in the College of San Ignacio. In late April 1733 he received a letter from his friend Augustine Cadaveraz (in Bilbao) after he had requested the priest to translate a Latin chapter on Corpus Christi from Joseph de Gallifet's book "On Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus". On 3 May 1733 he took the book from the library of the house and took it to his room where he began to read it; the Sacred Heart both inspired and illuminated him.