JOHN IGNATIUS VARELA, FOUNDER

JOHN IGNATIUS VARELA, FOUNDER - 22 MAY

JOHN IGNATIUS VARELA, FOUNDER

A page of one of Fortunatus Hueber's
Saints' books,
"Stammenbuch..." (1693)

John Ignatius Varela (Johannes Ildephonsus Ignatius Varela et Lossado), the founder of the Society of the "Penitents of Jesus the Nazarene", was born of noble family at Brige in the Spanish Diocese of Lugo in the Kingdom of Gallicia, on December 14, 1723.

As he grew up, the originally pious and intelligent young man increasingly degraded into a dissolute lifestyle, wandered through many cities and provinces, committed himself to the military rank three times and left it again three times.

Finally, God permitted to let poverty, sickness and imprisonment come upon him, whereby he finally came to himself and made the firm decision to lead a better life.

He therefore emptied himself of all earthly things to begin a life wholly devoted to the Lord God and to the works of godliness. He especially wanted to imitate Jesus crucified in His poverty and in patiently enduring suffering.

Ohers around him were intrigued and wanted to join him, and so he founded the sodality of the "penitents of Jesus the Nazarene", usually called gli Scalzetti, "the barefoot ones," which he introduced to Spain, Italy, and other areas. In a short space of time, he erected more than 33 houses without any human support and with the greatest difficulty. Finally he died in the embrace of the Cross at Ferrara on May 22, 1769, deeply mourned by all who knew him. (J.F.)

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints)

Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations

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