CatholicSaints.Info

Also known as

• Juan de Massias
• Juan Masias
• Juan Massias
• Juan Macias
• John….
• Arcas Sánchez
• The Thief of Purgatory

Memorial

• 16 September
• 18 September on some calendars

Profile

Born to a pious and impoverished Spanish noble family. Orphaned young, he worked as a shepherd. Worked on a South American cattle ranch around Cartagena, Colombia. Dominican lay brother at Lima, Peru, received by the house on 23 January 1622. Worked as porter or doorkeeper for his friary for over 20 years. Noted for visions, for his care for the poor of Lima, and for his endless praying of the Rosary, offering all his prayers for the release of souls in Purgatory; traditions says that he freed over a million through his prayers. Friend of Saint Martin de Porres.

Born

• 2 March 1585 at Ribera del Fresno, Estramadura, Spain

Died

• 16 September 1645 in Lima, Peru of natural causes

Venerated

• 2 February 1762 by Pope Clement XIII (decree of heroic virtues)

Beatified

• 22 October 1837 by Pope Pius VII

Canonized

• 28 September 1975 by Pope Paul VI

MLA Citation

• “Saint Juan Macías“. CatholicSaints.Info. 30 September 2023. Web. 25 April 2024. <>