Priest, 'Thaumaturgus of Barcelona', b. at Barcelona, November 23, 1650; d. there, March 23, 1702

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Oriol, JOSEPH, Saint, priest, "Thaumaturgus of Barcelona", b. at Barcelona, November 23, 1650; d. there, March 23, 1702. He studied in the University of Barcelona, receiving the degree of Doctor of Theology, August 1, 1674. Ordained priest, May 30, 1676, he visited Rome in 1686 and was granted a benefice in the church of Nuestra Senora del Pino, in Barcelona. His priestly life was remarkable for a spirit of penance, profound humility, and prudence in directing souls. Impelled by a desire of martyrdom, he went to Rome in April, 1698, to offer himself for the foreign missions, but, falling sick at Marseilles, he returned to Barcelona. God bestowed upon him prophetic and miraculous power. The dying, the blind, the deaf and dumb, the lame, and the paralytic, were instantly cured by him. He was beatified by Pius VII, September 5, 1806, and canonized by Pius X, May 20, 1909. His feast occurs on March 23.

CHARLES J. MIILLALY