The Process of Beatification of Manuel de Jesus Diegues

VICAR OF CHRIST | THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES THE DUKES OF BRAGANZA |
DIOCESE OF BRAGANZA - MIRANDA | THE PARISH OF SAINT EULALIA OF FORNOS |
DAILY PRACTICES | NOVENA | MANUEL DE JESUS DIEGUES |

THE PROCESS OF BEATIFICATION OF MANUEL DE JESUS DIEGUES
Manuel de Jesus Diegues, the 9th Grand Master of the Order, was an outstanding example of piety and Catholic devotion. He followed the tradition of his house to always give alms to those who ask, to always have a bed for the homeless and soup for the hungry. The House of the Loom (Casa to Tear) in Braganza (Northeast of Portugal) was well known, inside and outside the Castle walls, as place anyone could find food and shelter. Throughout his short life, even in difficult times, he would cook himself a generous meal every Sunday, after the Holy Mass, where anyone, friend or foe, poor or rich, could take a seat. First in Braganza, but later on in Barcelos and Braga, the word soon got around among the poor and destitute that in the house of that «holy man» they were giving «good» food and «wheat» bread. In those days people would give corn bread to the poor because it was cheaper, and wheat bread was only for those well off.

One day, in Braga, already hit by financial ruin and under the persecution of the political police (PIDE) of the regime, he gave a poor that came knocking on his door the last coin of his entire savings (2$50 escudos, enough for a modest meal). When confronted by his wife he replied: «this one never had anything and we have never wanted. Now we both have something new.»

He fought in the Spanish Civil War, with the «Requetés» (Carlist Milicia) because his mother and maternal grandparents were Carlist refugees in Portugal. He was made a prisoner by the Socialists and was miraculously saved from the firing squad thanks to the personal intervention of His Lord the Bishop of Braganza - Miranda (God Bless him). He returned home profoundly shocked by the barbarity with which the Socialists treated the Catholics and the Clergy. During the Spanish Civil war 20,000 churches were deliberately destroyed and 6,861 priests and noons were assassinated.

In spite of his traditional upbringing he never supported the Estado Novo (New State, a dictatorship installed in 1926), nor did he support any of the measures of suppressing freedom or persecuting political opponents of the regime. He kept faithful to the defense of freedom and justice supported by a Christian humanism that was part of his legacy. He was forbidden to run for public office, teach at any school or hold any position in the civil service because of his political ideas. He was also arrested several times by the political police (PIDE), the last one shortly before his death in 1961, when he was tortured for a month in the prison of Porto.

Because he had a car (a Hillman) and a chauffeur, he helped many people to move across the country or to escape abroad illegally, especially those who could not travel by train or bus afraid of being recognized and arrested.

He was slowly surrounded by the oppressive forces of the state and slowly moving into bankruptcy, without ever stopping to assist the poor and needy with all of his means.

He died, victim of the many wounds inflicted during torture, on June, 29th of 1961, leaving a widow and four infant orphans.

In 2008 a process of beatification was started and Prof. H. D. Cerqueira de Souza, his grandson, was appointed proto postulator.