Andrés Garcia Acosta |
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| Servants of God | |
| O.F.M. |
Andrés Garcia Acosta |
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| Servants of God | |
| O.F.M. |
Andrés Antonio María de los Dolores was born of a Christian family on 10th January, 1800 in the hamlet of Ampuyenta on the Island of Fuerteventura, Spain. He was baptised on the 18th January of the same year. in the parish Santa Ana de Casillas del Angel, and his godfather was a priest, Antonio Mena del Castillo. Andrés' father died when he was only 5 years old, and he grew up with his mother and his three brothers. Later, she got married again, and gave birth to another child, an half-brother. |
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He spent his childhood running around with other children in the surroundings of the Franciscan Community, situated not very far from his home. As he grew older, he moved to the Island San Diego de Alcalà and worked, like other young men, as a goatherd and a farmer. His recollections of the period he spent on that island, influenced him throughout the years. At the age of 32, he emigrated to America, settling at first in Montevideo, Uruguay, and then in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he worked as a merchant. In Montevideo he knew a Franciscan Friar, Fr.Felipe Echenagusia, who became his spiritual director. |
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Andrés joined the Franciscans as a Lay Tertiary, working as a porter and collecting alms. In 1838, the Uruguayan Government expelled the friars, so Fr.Felipe and Andrés moved to Santiago, Chile, joining the Friars Minor Recollects. Andrés was admitted to their monastery, Recoleta Franciscana, and was posted to serve in the kitchen. Few months later, he was appointed to collect alms. Brother Andrés devoted himslef to every sort of charitable labours, aiding the needy and giving spirituals advices. His reputation spread in every social class, his friendship was sought by rich and poor, everybody felt affection for him, so he was nicknamed Friar Andresito. The sentence "May God be praised" was the most frequently uttered by his lips. He passed away on 14th January 1853. Every month, on 14th, the Friars of the Recoleta Franciscana pray for his Cause of Beatification. His case is being handled by the "Office for Saints", General Curia of the Friars Minor - Rome. |
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