José Bau Burguet

The ministry of José Bau Burguet is marked by remarkable pastoral zeal. In 1892, he began as a vicar in Segart, where he founded the "Escuela de Cristo". In 1896, he became vicar of the Santa Mónica parish in Valencia. From 1902 to 1910, he was the first parish priest of the Asunción y Santa Bárbara parish in Masarrojos. He then directed the Colegio Mayor-Seminario de la Presentación y Santo Tomás de Villanueva from 1910 to 1918. In 1911, he founded the diocesan section of the Apostolic Union of the Clergy in Valencia. In 1914, he was appointed spiritual director of the Catechists of the Virgin of Sorrows in Alaquàs, collaborating with the Venerable Josefa Campos Talamantes. Finally, from 1925 to 1929, he was parish priest of the San Miguel y San Sebastián parish in Valencia.

Stricken by illness, José Bau Burguet saw his strength decline. After a serious malaise during a Mass in Picassent, his nephew Benjamín brought him back to Valencia, to the Rue du Musée. He spent his final days bedridden in prayer, often with his arms in the shape of a cross. On November 21, 1932, the day of the Presentation of Mary, he received the last sacraments. He passed away the following day, November 22, 1932, surrounded by a great reputation for holiness. Initially buried in the Masarrojos cemetery, his mortal remains were solemnly transferred on May 1, 1955, to the parish church of Masarrojos, in the chapel of the Purísima.

The cause for beatification was opened at the diocesan level in Valencia on April 19, 1956, and closed on May 31, 1958. An additional process took place from May 3, 1993, to August 15, 1995, which was validated by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints on January 13, 1996. The Positio was published the same year. On May 2, 2016, the theological consultants voted unanimously in favor of the heroic nature of his virtues, which was confirmed by the cardinals and bishops on November 15, 2016. On December 2, 2016, Pope Francis authorized the promulgation of the decree recognizing his heroic virtues, conferring upon him the title of Venerable. His cause now awaits the recognition of a miracle.

The spirituality of José Bau Burguet is based on the love of the Eucharist and an intense Marian devotion. Consecrated as a "slave of Mary" according to the method of Saint Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort, he presented a paper on "The Secret of Mary" at the Mariological Congress of Zaragoza in 1909. In 1931, he had the motto "Por María Inmaculada" added to the Apostolic Union of the Clergy. He was one of the promoters of the canonical coronation of the Virgin of the Forsaken in 1923 and composed several writings, including catechetical explanations on the Mass and the hymn for the coronation of the Virgin of Health of Algemesí in 1925. He is considered a "modern Spanish Curé of Ars."