Venerable Faustino Pérez-Manglano: A Youth Who Prayed the Rosary

In our Catholic tradition, October is the month of the rosary, and we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary on October 7. In praying the rosary we are called to reflect on the mysteries of Jesus through the eyes of Mary, the Mother of God. We are invited to deepen our relationship with our God by walking with Mary. Venerable Faustino Pérez-Manglano, one our Marianist Saints, was an avid pray-er of the rosary who inspires us to engage with this powerful method of prayer.

Faustino (8/4/1946 - 3/3/1963) was a Spanish youth who died at the early age of 16 due to cancer issues. When he was in fifth grade, he promised to pray the rosary every day. But he was concerned that he was missing days due to playing too much during vacations and wanted to catch up. His spiritual director was impressed with the teenager’s desire and fidelity to the rosary and invited Faustino not to worry about occasionally missing this daily prayer. As long as he liked praying the rosary, his debt was paid, and he was asked to pray the rosary for the rest of his life whenever he could.

Two passages that Fr. José María Salaverri, SM, recalls from Faustino’s diary emphasize his dedication to the rosary:

From then on, Faustino always prayed the rosary. The times each day are noted in his diary, using similar phrases: "I prayed the rosary during the day . . . at midnight . . . while going to school this morning . . . while receiving radiation therapy." A few times he even wrote, "I forget to pray the rosary."(1)

Father told me that my dedication to praying the rosary since I was young might have led the Blessed Virgin to reward me with a religious vocation. How wonderful and good the Mother of Heaven has been to me! It is a reward that can’t be measured. It is a prize that is worth all the world’s goods put together. Thank you, Mother, for your wonderful goodness!(2)

Praying the rosary for Venerable Faustino was a practice that deepened his relationship with God and, of course, with Mary. It gave him comfort and perseverance, especially during his Cancer treatment. His dedication to the rosary has been a sign of his holiness that was recognized by the Church. I invite you to see Venerable Faustino as a witness to what praying the Rosary can contribute to one’s spiritual life while seeking to deepen one’s relationship with Jesus, Son of God, become Son of Mary for the salvation of the world.

For more on Marianist Saints, particularly Venerable Faustino Pérez-Manglano, we recommend:

• Community Meeting Kit: A Spectacle of Saints - This meditative and prayerful resource explores the Marianist candidates on the path to sainthood and how we are blessed with ordinary saints in our lives today.
• Fifty Times I Love You: The Rosary with Faustino - A pamphlet on the rosary, written by Fr. José María Salaverri, SM, which includes Gospel images and a few thoughts from Faustino Pérez-Manglano for each decade of the rosary.
• Maybe God Will Speak to Me - A moving story of Faustino Pérez-Manglano’s patience throughout his painful terminal illness, written by Fr. José María Salaverri, SM.