Miguel Ángel Builes
A Colombian bishop and founder of missionary congregations, Bishop Miguel Ángel Builes left his mark on the religious history of his country through his apostolic zeal.
Contemporaries
Figures and markers around the normalized period for this entry.
Guided reading
5 reading sections
Biography
Youth, formation, and priestly and episcopal ministry of Bishop Miguel Ángel Builes.
Miguel Ángel Builes Gómez was born on September 9, 1888, in Donmatías, in the department of Antioquia, Colombia. He was the second of nine children of Agustín Builes Restrepo and Ana María Gómez Peña. Baptized on September 12, 1888, in the parish church of his hometown, he grew up in a deeply pious rural family. He felt the call to the priesthood very early on. In 1907, he entered the minor seminary of San Pedro de los Milagros, then continued his theological studies at the major seminary of Santa Fe de Antioquia starting in 1911. He was ordained a priest on November 29, 1914, by Bishop Maximiliano Crespo Rivera. In the first years of his ministry, he served as a vicar in Valdivia, then as a parish priest in several parishes, notably in Toledo, Santa Isabel, and Remedios. His pastoral zeal and attention to isolated populations were evident from that time. On May 27, 1924, Pope Pius XI appointed him Bishop of Santa Rosa de Osos. He received episcopal consecration on August 3, 1924, at the hands of Archbishop Roberto Vicentini, then Apostolic Nuncio to Colombia. He governed this diocese for nearly forty-three years, deeply marking the religious and social history of his region. Bishop Builes was also a prominent and controversial figure in 20th-century Colombian history. An ardent defender of traditional Catholic doctrine, he vigorously opposed political liberalism and communism, which he considered direct threats to the Christian faith and morals. His numerous pastoral letters and uncompromising positions sparked lively debates in the country. At the same time, he distinguished himself by immense charity toward the poor, opening the doors of his bishopric to the most destitute. After submitting his resignation to Pope Paul VI in February 1967 due to his declining health, he retired to Medellín, where he died on September 29, 1971. He is buried in the cathedral of Santa Rosa de Osos.
Life and Work
The missionary impetus of Bishop Builes through the foundation of four major religious institutes.
The work of Bishop Miguel Ángel Builes is inseparable from his immense missionary impetus, which earned him the nickname of the "missionary bishop of Colombia." Convinced of the need to evangelize the most remote regions and to address the shortage of priests, he founded four major religious institutes: the Foreign Mission Institute of Yarumal (IMEY), founded on July 3, 1927, in Yarumal; the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus (Misioneras Teresitas), founded on April 11, 1929, in Santa Rosa de Osos; the Congregation of the Contemplative Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament (Hermanas Contemplativas del Santísimo), founded on April 11, 1939; and the Congregation of the Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy (Hijas de la Misericordia), founded on October 11, 1951, in Santa Rosa de Osos. During his long episcopate, Bishop Builes ordained 162 priests and consecrated three bishops (Bishop Francisco Gallego Pérez, Bishop Gerardo Valencia Cano, and Bishop Gustavo Posada Peláez). He established 23 parishes, oversaw the construction of the diocesan curia buildings, the seminary, and the minor basilica of Our Lady of Mercy in Santa Rosa de Osos, actively propagating this Marian devotion.
Path to Sainthood
The introduction of the cause for beatification of Bishop Builes and the diocesan inquiry.
The reputation for holiness of Bishop Miguel Ángel Builes, nurtured by his life of intense prayer, his rigorous asceticism, and his pastoral dedication, led to the opening of his cause for beatification. The cause was introduced in the Diocese of Santa Rosa de Osos. The Holy See granted the nihil obstat decree on October 8, 1990. The diocesan inquiry into the life, virtues, and reputation for holiness of the Servant of God was officially opened on September 29, 2001, and concluded after gathering numerous testimonies and documents. The acts of the inquiry were then transmitted to Rome, to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, for study.
Beatification and canonization
The recognition of the heroic virtues of Bishop Builes by Pope Francis in 2018.
On May 19, 2018, Pope Francis received in audience the Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and authorized the promulgation of the decree recognizing the heroic virtues of Bishop Miguel Ángel Builes. By this act, the Catholic Church officially declared him Venerable. The cause for beatification is currently underway. For him to be proclaimed Blessed, the official recognition of a miracle attributed to his intercession by the Holy See is required.
Spirituality and Legacy
The Christocentric and Marian spirituality of Bishop Builes and the enduring nature of his work.
The spirituality of Bishop Builes is deeply marked by the French School of spirituality, inherited from his formation with the Eudist fathers. It is centered on the mystery of the Incarnation and intimate identification with Christ, summarized by his spiritual motto: "My life is Christ" (Mi vivir es Cristo). His episcopal motto, taken from Saint Paul, is "Certa bonum certamen Fidei" (Fight the good fight of the faith). He also nurtured an extraordinary filial devotion to the Virgin Mary, particularly under the title of Our Lady of Mercies. His love for the recitation of the Rosary sometimes earned him the affectionate nickname of "madman of the Ave Maria." Furthermore, the figure of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux profoundly influenced his missionary zeal and his vision of spiritual childhood. The legacy of Bishop Builes remains alive through the "MAB Family" (Miguel Ángel Builes), which brings together the members of the four congregations he founded. These institutes continue their mission of evangelization and aid to the most destitute today in Colombia, as well as in many countries in Latin America, Africa, Europe, and Asia. In 1962, the Yarumal Missionaries founded the Miguel Ángel Builes Ethnographic Museum (MEMAB) in Medellín, intended to preserve and promote the cultural heritage of the indigenous peoples evangelized by the institute, testifying to the openness and respect of Bishop Builes's work toward cultural diversity.
Frequently asked questions about Miguel Ángel Builes
Who was Miguel Ángel Builes?
A Colombian bishop and founder of missionary congregations, Bishop Miguel Ángel Builes left his mark on the religious history of his country through his apostolic zeal.
Which saints were contemporaries of Miguel Ángel Builes?
Contemporaries include: Pauline of the Agonizing Heart of Jesus, Felipe de Jesús Munárriz and 50 companions, Mariano de Jesús Euse Hoyos and Teresa of Jesus of the Andes.
When did Miguel Ángel Builes die?
Miguel Ángel Builes died around 1971.
What are the other names of Miguel Ángel Builes?
Other forms of the name: Miguel Ángel Builes Gómez.
Who are the relatives of Miguel Ángel Builes?
Relatives of Miguel Ángel Builes: Agustín Builes Restrepo (father) and Ana María Gómez Peña (mother).
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Era / death: 1971
- Decree of venerability in 2018 by Francis