Mexican Folk Figure. A native of Zapotlán el Grande, Juan José Anguiano Galván came from a noble and numerous family which gave the Catholic Church four of its sons: two Franciscans and two diocesan priests. Being the last one of them to ordain as a diocesan in 1873, Juan was assigned to the parishes of Tepatitlán, San José de Gracia, Mexicaltzingo and El Sagrario Metropolitano. Moving to the Templo de Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes of Guadalajara, Anguiano saw not only its restoration but most of all its reintegration, after being used for purposes far from being religious following the Reform War, with a cantina present in the very midst of the temple court. There he was to spend the rest of his life there, in austerity. Across the years, he managed not only to restore the sanctuary but also the images and statues conserved in it. Founding the Mercederian Third Order and the Las Ánimas Arch-confraternity, hundreds were those who joined and who visited the sanctuary, seeking him for confession and advice. He celebrated mass every half hour between 5.30 am and noon and across the day had the ongoing adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and the hearing of confessions. Upon the death of his brother, Fray Bernardo de la Madre de Dios in 1906, he led his remaining years in deep penance, clothed in a rough sackcloth, sleeping on the floor, eating tasteless food, and referring to himself as "Juan Solitario de Dios, Muerto y Sepultado". Passing away after a painful and prolonged illness, his funeral saw the participation of thousands. As the Cristero War was nearing, his body was interred in an unmarked location in temple, most probably in the sacristy, where a painting of his hangs to this day, so in case of persecution, the remains wouldn't be disturbed or destroyed.
Mexican Folk Figure. A native of Zapotlán el Grande, Juan José Anguiano Galván came from a noble and numerous family which gave the Catholic Church four of its sons: two Franciscans and two diocesan priests. Being the last one of them to ordain as a diocesan in 1873, Juan was assigned to the parishes of Tepatitlán, San José de Gracia, Mexicaltzingo and El Sagrario Metropolitano. Moving to the Templo de Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes of Guadalajara, Anguiano saw not only its restoration but most of all its reintegration, after being used for purposes far from being religious following the Reform War, with a cantina present in the very midst of the temple court. There he was to spend the rest of his life there, in austerity. Across the years, he managed not only to restore the sanctuary but also the images and statues conserved in it. Founding the Mercederian Third Order and the Las Ánimas Arch-confraternity, hundreds were those who joined and who visited the sanctuary, seeking him for confession and advice. He celebrated mass every half hour between 5.30 am and noon and across the day had the ongoing adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and the hearing of confessions. Upon the death of his brother, Fray Bernardo de la Madre de Dios in 1906, he led his remaining years in deep penance, clothed in a rough sackcloth, sleeping on the floor, eating tasteless food, and referring to himself as "Juan Solitario de Dios, Muerto y Sepultado". Passing away after a painful and prolonged illness, his funeral saw the participation of thousands. As the Cristero War was nearing, his body was interred in an unmarked location in temple, most probably in the sacristy, where a painting of his hangs to this day, so in case of persecution, the remains wouldn't be disturbed or destroyed.
Bio by: Eman Bonnici
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