December 17

Spanish.
1833-1901

Born to a large and pious family. Dedicated to Our Lady at age 5 by his mother. Educated by the Piarist Fathers in Barbastro. Trained in seminaries at Lleida and Urgell. Ordained on 9 April 1859. Private secretary to the bishop of Urgell. Seminary librarian. Chancery administrator. Secretary for pastoral visitations. Founded the Congregation of the Sons of the Holy Family in 1864. Founded the Missionary Daughters of the Holy Family of Nazareth in 1874. Both were dedicated to serving Christian family, teaching, and parish ministry, and today work throughout Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Founded schools and ministerial centers in several Spanish towns. Wrote books and pamphlets encouraging devotion to the Holy Family, to help the spiritual formation of the members of his congregations, to help families in trouble, and about school management. Founded the magazine La Sagrada Familia. Worked for the construction of a temple in Barcelona dedicated to the Holy Family, which was built by Servant of God Antonio Gaudi.

"The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you." (John 14: 26) From the beginning, the Holy Spirit has brought forth men and women who have remembered and spread the truth revealed by Jesus. One of these was Saint Jose Manyanet, a true apostle of the family. Inspired by the school of Nazareth, he carried out his plan of personal sanctity and heroically devoted himself to the mission that the Spirit entrusted to him. He founded two religious congregations. A visible symbol of his apostolic zeal is also the temple of the Holy Family of Barcelona. May Saint Jose Manyanet bless all families and help them follow the example of the Holy Family in their homes!" - Pope John Paul II's canonization homily for Saint Jose