Blessed Sebastian of Aparicio

bas-relief of Blessed Sebastian of Aparicio, date unknown, artist unknown; photographed on 12 July 2012 by Enrique López-Tamayo Biosca; swiped from Wikimedia Commons Also known as

Angel of Mexico
Sebastián de Aparicio Prado

Memorial

25 February

Profile

Born of Spanish peasants. Shepherd as a child, and a hired field hand as a young man, helping to support his family. Gentleman’s valet at Salamanca. He travelled to Puebla, Mexico at age 31 where he built plows and wagons, and worked as a farm hand. Spent 10 years building a 466 mile road from Mexico City to Zacatecas, and conducting the postal and delivery service along the route; the road is still in use today.

Sebastian eventually became very wealthy, but lived simply, and gave freely of his money to the poor. He was married twice, the first time at age 60, but he never consummated the marriages, and outlived both brides. He gave away his wealth and became a Franciscan at age 72, spending his remaining 25 years begging alms for his brother Franciscans. Witnesses attest to over 300 miracles he performed in life.