"... so that Fr. Aloysius be more widely known and loved ..."
Father Aloysius Ellacuria, CMF
Fr. Aloysius Ellacuria, C.M.F. (Click for Friends)
Father Aloysius Ellacuria, CMF
Fr. Aloysius Ellacuria, CMF, was the well known Basque Claretian mystic, with reputation as a miracle worker in California, especially in the Los Angles area, in the 1950's through the 1970's. During these years, even the very famous would visit him, or seek him out for advice, or in some cases, receive through his intercession miraculous cures. Father Aloysius always attributed the many graces which people received to the goodness of the Almighty God. Among his many "gifts", Father had the charism of reading souls, expelling demons, and the gift of prophesy. He became well known for his unique presence, as he reflected peace and goodness. He was always grateful to God for many graces which God granted in request to his prayers on behalf of others. Gratitude to God was, for Father Aloysius, most important.
In 1976 Father Aloysius told me to keep sealed "for 20 years" recordings and documents which he gave me regarding many of the events concerning his life. Only recently have we begun to examine the heritage of this remarkable priest, religious, and missionary.
Information about Fr. Aloysius, his life and work is presented on this wesite. Certainly Father's Basque cultural heritage is one key to understanding him, and we will examine this Basque aspect at our upcoming conference.
Father Aloysius had an exceptional enthusiasm and love for his own founder, Saint Anthony Mary Claret. He was an ardent missionary for message of Our Lady of Fatima. He published in Soul Magazine an article entitled, "St. Anthony Mary Claret as the Perfect Forerunner of the Fatima Message."
He is also remembered for his prayer groups, or guilds, as he called them. His first guild, formed in 1948, was called the Immaculate Heart of Mary Guild. But he formed a total of twelve guilds during his lifetime. In 1971 he instructed me to form a "guild" to assist his work, the Claretian Missionaries of Perpetual Adoration. In 1972 this foundation was renamed, the Missionaries of Perpetual Adoration.
During the last ten years of his life, he founded a religious congregation to spead the message of Fatima. He considered the work was commended to him under holy obedience by his own Superior General, Fr. Anthony Leghisa, CMF, in 1972. It may be a coincidence, but the year of 1972 is significant in the Fatima message.
Although this website is small, I believe that eventually, as more people get to know the life of this holy priest, there will be a greater interest in the work of Father Aloysius. If you have suggestions for the betterment of the site, please feel free to make them.
Yours in the Heart of Mary,
Fr. Kevin Pius Manion
June 3, 2009
Brief Biography
Fr. Aloysius Ellacuria, C.M.F. was born in Igorre, Spain on June 21, 1905, the Feast of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, S.J. -- June 21 is also the the longest day of the year and the beginning of summer. Fr. Aloysius was baptized the next morning on June 22, with the name Juan Luis. That year it was the Feast of Corpus Christi. Family members recalled years later that after he was baptized a pious woman announced that he surely would become a priest one day, since he was baptized on the Feast of Corpus Christi. His baptismal record is found in the baptismal archives of the local parish church of San Cristobal in Yurre, Spain. The parish church dates to the 9th Century.
Father Aloysius entered the Claretian Missionaries when he was 11 years old. He was ordained a priest when he was 24, and shortly afterwards he was sent to America, where he was a professor of Greek and Latin. While in the United States he served as prefect, novice master, superior, treasurer, spiritual director, and pastor. During the last ten years of his life he founded a religious congregation of men, the Missionaries of Perpetual Adoration.
Father Aloysius died in Los Angeles on April 6, 1981.*
* The date April 6 was previously March 25th, the date of the Incarnation, according to the Julian Calendar. The Gregorian calendar took effect in 1582. It added 11 days to the calendar, correcting for the accumulated discrepancy between the Julian calendar and the equinox as of that date.
