Saint José María Rubio

Jose Maria Rubio, SJ (22 July 1864 – 2 May 1929) was a Spanish Jesuit, known as the "Apostle of Madrid". He was canonised in 2003 by Pope John Paul II. Son of farmers and the oldest of thirteen brothers, born to Francisco Rubio and Mercedes Peralta, he grew up in the town of Dalías, until in 1876 he entered the diocesan seminary of Almeria, where he studied Human Studies and Philosophy. In 1878 he then studied Philosophy and Theology for four years at the major seminary in Granada, where he was sponsored and protected by the professor and canon Joaquin Torres Asensio. On Ascensio's move to Madrid, Rubio followed his professor to study theology for a fifth year. He was ordained September 24, 1887 and celebrated his first Mass on October 12 on the altar of the conversion of San Luis Gonzaga of the then Cathedral of San Isidro in Madrid. He obtained a degree in theology in 1896 and a doctorate in Canon Law from Toledo in 1897. He then worked for three years as curate at Chinchón and in 1889 became pastor at Estremera. In both villages he was notable for his extreme austerity, his catechesis of children, and service of the poorest. Later, as Chaplain of Bernardine nuns in the church of the Sacrament in Almudena parish, he became distinguished by his activity in the suburbs of the capital with the cleaners and "dressmakers". In 1890 he began to teach Latin literature, pastoral theology and metaphysics at the seminary in Madrid, and was a notary and registrar of the vicariate of the diocese. During a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 1904 he underwent deep spiritual experiences. During this period he described himself as a "fan of the Jesuits", because since his time as a student of theology at Granada he had wanted to join the Order. He entered the Jesuit novitiate in Granada in 1906 and made his religious profession in 1908. After the novitiate, he reviewed his theology for a year and had pastoral experience in Seville.