Beneath Mary's Mantle: St. Juan Macias (1585 to 1645)
St. Dominic once had a dream in which he saw all the saints of the Order safely beneath the mantle of Mary, Protectress of the Order of Preachers. In this blog series, we’ll introduce our beloved Dominican Saints, learn about their lives and work, and come to see how they still inspire and pass on their gifts to today’s faithful.
Patron of Emigrants
Born: 1585 in Ribera del Fresno, Spain
Died: September 16, 1645 in Lima, Peru
Feast Day: September 18
Born in 16th century Spain, Juan Macias was orphaned as a young boy and became a shepherd for his uncle. Always devout, he developed a devotion to Our Lady, especially through the rosary, which he would pray 3 times per day: once for himself, once for sinners, and once for the holy souls in purgatory. Also, Mary, the Christ Child, and his patron, the apostle St. John, would appear to him in visions.
In one of these visions, St. John told Juan that he should leave his home and go far away, and in so doing become even more of an exile in this earthly life. Despite his perplexity, Juan obeyed, sailing on a merchant ship to South America. He was only 20 years old. Upon his arrival he worked as a shepherd, then entered the Dominican house of St. Mary Magdalen in Lima, Peru as a lay brother. There he was assistant to the porter, and he met all those who came to the priory for help. St. Juan excelled in performing many acts of charity, begging alms for the poor and teaching the catechism. It is said that as he did so, rays of light shone from his face.
St. Juan continued always to pray the rosary, and through Mary’s intercession helped many souls be freed from purgatory. He also performed numerous miracles on earth, such as converting apostates, fixing things around the priory, and multiplying food. It was at this time that Lima was home to multiple saintly Dominicans, such as St. Martin de Porres, who was a good friend of St. Juan, and St. Rose of Lima. Juan died on September 16, 1645, accompanied by Our Lady, St. Dominic, and St. John, the saints Juan had been so close to and counted on throughout his life.
It is shocking to realize that St. Juan left Spain with no idea where he was going or what he was supposed to do when he got there. Yet in boarding that ship for the “New World,” he followed the example of many holy people who have put all their trust in the Lord, even to a seemingly illogical extent. Immediately one thinks of Abraham responding to God’s call to “Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk and from your father’s house to a land I will show you” (Genesis 12:1). So too did Peter and Andrew immediately act upon Jesus’ words when He said, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 5:19). Perhaps above all we should think that St. Juan imitated Mary, to whom he was so devoted, in her fiat at the Annunciation. “Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done unto me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).
God will not ask everyone to leave their homeland and move across the world, but for many there will come a time in which we must radically trust God. We can and should draw courage and hope from these holy examples God has given His people. The communion of saints are not only our models of Christian life, but also our intercessors, particularly in times of an ever increasing need for trust and faithfulness. By following God’s will in all things, from small daily tasks to large life decisions, we glorify His name and spread His Kingdom.
St. Juan Macias, pray for us!
