Blessed Francisco Gárate – Readings
Commentary on Ephesians 6:10-18; Ps 62; Luke 14:1, 7-11
The Gospel reading from Luke reflects attitudes which were the total opposite of the spirit of Francisco Gárate. We are told that on a sabbath Jesus went to dine with at the house of one of the leading Pharisees. We might notice that Jesus was no social snob. He was ready to communicate with people of all classes; he came to bring his message to everyone without exception.
During the meal, Jesus told a parable arising out of his observation that those invited were jockeying for the best places at the table. He said that when people are invited they should not try to get the place of honour. Another guest may come and be given that place and one will be humiliated by being asked to go to a lower place.
Instead, when invited to a meal, one should go to the lowest place. Then the host may say, ‘Friend, please move to a higher position.’ And then one will gain honour in the presence of the other guests. Of course, it is also possible that one will be left in the lower position!
The point that Jesus is making is that for a true disciple such concerns are totally irrelevant. And indeed in the long run it is the truly humble person who is most respected and not the social climber who is really a pathetic figure.
Francisco Gárate spent more than 40 years of his Jesuit life as ‘only’ a doorkeeper or receptionist. But over those years people developed a deep respect for his personality, his charity, politeness and total dedication to his job. We might look at the pattern of our own working life. Are we concerned about status and position? Are we only concerned about the money we are earning? Or are we concerned about how we can be most of service to others by the work we do?
The First Reading from the Letter to the Ephesians speaks about the precautions we need to take against the various temptations that we are likely to encounter. We are urged to “put on the armour of God… to stand fast with loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace”.
Faith is to be our shield, we are to take “the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit”, which is the word of God. And, finally, to pray at every opportunity in the Spirit.
Francisco was known as a man of deep prayer. It is there that we, too, can find the “armour of God” which will give us the strength to live lives of truth and love.
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Blessed Francisco Gárate
Blessed Francisco Gárate, Religious, SJ
Francisco Gárate was born in Recarte, a village not far from Loyola, in the Basque region of northern Spain in 1857. At the age of 14, after a few years of elementary education, he began work as a domestic servant at the Jesuit college in Orduna before entering the Society of Jesus as a Brother. From 1877-1888 he served as infirmarian and sacristan at the Jesuit college in La Guardia. For the next 40 years he was doorkeeper at the University of Deusto in Bilbao. As doorkeeper. As the first person most people would see on entering the university building he became also effectively receptionist, public relations officer, student counsellor and benefactor of the poor. He was noted by all for his innate goodness, humility, and prayerfulness. He has been called a “modern Alphonsus” because his Jesuit life reflected that of another doorkeeper, St Alphonsus Rodriguez SJ.
He died on 9 September 1929 (the feast of fellow Jesuit, Peter Claver) and was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1985.
Blessed Francisco is remembered for his outstanding charity, courtesy, and dedication to work.