SAN JUAN MACÍAS (1585-1645)
Juan de Arcas Sánchez, born in Ribera del Fresno, was a very young boy when his parents died, leaving him under the care of his uncle who made him work as a pastor. After a time he met a merchant with whom he began to work and with whom he traveled to the Indies in 1616
After touring several cities, he settled permanently in Peru, where he lived until his death. He got a job on a cattle ranch on the outskirts of the capital and in these circumstances he discovered his vocation to religious life. In Lima he prepared to enter the Order of Preachers as a lay brother in the Dominican convent of Santa María Magdalena, taking the habits in 1622 and it was there that he found sanctity standing out for his asceticism and for his great dedication to the poor. He was beatified by Gregory XVI in 1813 and finally canonized by Paul VI on September 28, 1975.
In the house where he was born, a hermitage bearing his name was built in 1985, as was the street where it is located.
After touring several cities, he settled permanently in Peru, where he lived until his death. He got a job on a cattle ranch on the outskirts of the capital and in these circumstances he discovered his vocation to religious life. In Lima he prepared to enter the Order of Preachers as a lay brother in the Dominican convent of Santa María Magdalena, taking the habits in 1622 and it was there that he found sanctity standing out for his asceticism and for his great dedication to the poor. He was beatified by Gregory XVI in 1813 and finally canonized by Paul VI on September 28, 1975.
In the house where he was born, a hermitage bearing his name was built in 1985, as was the street where it is located.
