Blessed Juan Nepomuceno Zegrí Y Moreno

Biography

Blessed Juan Nepomuceno Zegrí Y Moreno, also known as John Nepomucene Zegrí y Moreno or Johannes Nepomuk Zegrí y Moreno, was born on 11 October 1831 in Granada, Spain. He was the son of Antonio Zegrí Martín and Josefa Moreno Escudero. From a young age, Blessed Juan exhibited piety and a strong religious inclination, leading him to pursue a vocation to the priesthood.

He received an excellent religious education and began his studies at Saint Dionysius Seminary in Granada. On 2 June 1855, he was ordained a priest in Granada. Following his ordination, Blessed Juan served as a parish priest in Huétor Santillán and San Gabriel de Loja in Granada. He also held the positions of synodal judge, canon of the cathedral of Malaga, visitor of religious orders in his diocese, and spiritual director of seminarians. Additionally, he served as a preacher and royal chaplain to Queen Isabel II.

On 16 March 1878, in Malaga, Blessed Juan founded the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy. This congregation was dedicated to the spiritual and physical improvement of the poor. The work of the congregation quickly spread throughout Spain, but unfortunately, scandal arose when some of the Sisters accused Blessed Juan of impropriety. As a result, on 7 July 1888, he was ordered to leave the Congregation.

Blessed Juan obediently complied with the order and chose to remain silent during the subsequent lengthy investigation that ensued. Despite the false allegations against him, he retained his faith and loyalty to his superiors. On 15 July 1894, he was finally cleared of all the accusations. Although Blessed Juan voluntarily stayed away from the Congregation, he was once again acknowledged as its founder.

Throughout his life, Blessed Juan Nepomuceno Zegrí Y Moreno dedicated himself to the service of God and the care of the poor. He passed away on 17 March 1905 in Malaga, Spain, from natural causes. Recognizing his virtues and holiness, Pope John Paul II declared him venerable on 21 December 2001. He was later beatified by Pope John Paul II on 9 November 2003.

Blessed Juan's selflessness and unwavering commitment to the Church and the marginalized continue to inspire and serve as a testament to his sanctity.