| CARMEL YOUTH CANDIDATES FOR SAINTHOOD SANTOS FRANCO y SANCHEZ (February 6) Santos was born July 6, 1942 at Hinojosa de Duque, Cordoba, Spain, the 6th of 13 children. He was a student of the Carmelite Fathers. His family and friends knew him as a peace maker for he constantly attempted to mediate the quarrels of his peers. Although not without childish faults, he was immediately and sincerely contrite. He was known by his family, his teachers and his friends as both obedient and good. At the age of 11 Santos began to manifest intense headaches and to suffer from high fevers. Misdiagnosed at first, when it was finally discovered that he suffered meningitis, it was too late for any remedy. Santos died after 2 months of patient suffering without ever losing his smile. He told his mother, "Don't be sad, Mama. I want only the will of God, and I am offering all to Him for sinners, for the missions and for whatever God wants." Although young, Santos understood and was united intensely to Jesus crucified: "You suffered more on the cross and when You were crowned with the crown of thorns, You had much pain in your head". Santos died on February 6, 1954, a little after the ringing of the Angelus. His final words were, "Whatever the Will of God chooses." RAMON MONTERO y NAVARRO (February 1) Ramon was born in 1931 in La Mancha, Spain. This was during the war. His father Elias Montero was outstanding for his piety towards their neighbors and friends. His father worked in a local clothier store and as a farmer tending vineyards. The mother of Ramon, Victoria Navarro and his father were deeply religious parents. At a young age, Ramon took part in all the games of his peers. Of all the games, he loves soccer. One day, his playmates put him on a mule which bucked sharply and threw Ramon, who landed on his back. He was speechless for half an hour. The parents took the boy to a bone specialist, who assured them that they had acted in time. The youngster's calvary had just begun for later this would develop into Pott's disease, commonly known as the disintegration of the bone. The brothers in St. John hospital told them: "this is a terrible sickness. Children with this disease, we have to tie up otherwise they would jump out of the window because of the pain they suffer." Yet Ramon kept telling his family not to bother about doctors; he had asked Jesus for a share in his sufferings, and he now wanted to accept whatever the Lord sent him. At the very young age, Ramon expressed his desire to become a member of Carmelite Third Order. The Carmelites dispensed him as the tertiary do not receive a youngster during his time. Ramon died on midday of February 1, 1945 under the loving arms of his mother with his eyes fixed on the crucifix. He lived in his life his words, "if our Lord were to tell me that he would take away all my pain, but he would love me less, I would tell the Lord to send me more sufferings, everything I could stand. But I'd beg him not to love me less even a little bit." |
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