PRAYER
O
Jesus, High and Eternal Priest, who deigned to raise to the episcopal dignity
your faithful servant Manuel Mendes da Conceição Santos, and granted him the
grace to be an intrepid defender of the Faith, a zelous apostle of Hope, a
generous advocate of charity, a devoted son of the Mother of God and model of
all pastoral virtues. In attention to his merits grant us the graces we ask of
You; thus assured of the power of his intercession we may, one day, contemplate
him raised to the glory of the Altars.
Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory Be.
* * * * *
We should be very much obliged if the ones who have received graces by his interceding, let the VicePostulation know about them, adressing to:
Rua das Fontes,
68
7000-589 ÉVORA Portugal
This information should be
undersigned and consist of a precise close report on the situation, not only
concerning a general view on the subject, but also defining the particular
nature of the grace.
According to the Cause, only graces having been obtained with the help of the
Servant of God will be taken into consideration.
BIOGRAPHY
He was bom in Olaia, Torres Novas -
Portugal - on 13 th December 1876, and died in Evora on 30 th March 1955.
He started his studies in the Seminary of Santarém from where he went to Rome to
finish his theological studies in the University of Saint Apolinarius where he
was the classmate of the future Pope Pio XII.
He recieved his doctorate on 4th May 1898 and went back to Santarém where he was
ordained a priest on 27 th May 1899. He lived in this city until 1905, having
been a very good preacher.
In 1905 he was called by H.E. Manuel Vieira de Matos, Bishop of Guarda, to be
rector of the Seminary. At this time he was nominated canon while continuing his
work as preacher and journalist.
His work in Guarda was immense while substituing the Prelate in exile until
1911.
He was assigned Bishop of Portalegre on 9th December 1915. In the short period
of five years his work in the reorganisation of the Diocese was notable.
On 4th June 1920, he was transfered by Benedict XV to Evora as Archbishop
Coadjutor
with the title of successor. On 24th July 1921 was appointed Archbishop of Evora,
making his solemn entrance in the Metropolitan See on 1 Ith February 1921.
He devoted himself to the new mission; preaching, restructuring the Seminary,
helping the priests with their on-going formation, taking an active part in the
Plenary Council of Portugal in 1926 and organising the Catholic Centre and the
Missionary, Eucharistie and Marian Congresses.
He fouded the Eborense Press, "A Defesa". The first number was published in
1924.
In 1935, after overcoming all difficulties, he opened the Minor Seminary of
Saint Joseph in the Convent of the Holy Wounds in Vila Viçosa.
When he went to Evora there were no Religious Congregations in the place. When
he died there were in the Archdiocese 32 Religious houses belonging to 23
different Institutes. In 1945 he fouded the Congregation of Handiriaids of the
Holy Church (Servas da Santa Igreja), for help of parish priests and for
cathequesing missions.
On lth December 1971, the Holy Sec authorised the opening of the process for his
Beatification.
His remains are in the closter of the Cathedral of Evora.