A portrait of St. Alberto Hurtado
St. Alberto Hurtado
January 22, 1901 – August 18, 1952
Feast
August 18 · XX c.
Patron of
Chile · The homeless · Social workers · Trade unionists · The Hogar de Cristo movement
Order
Priest / Jesuit / Social Apostle
Chilean Jesuit priest, lawyer, and social reformer who founded the Hogar de Cristo (Christ's Home) movement to provide shelter, dignity, and rehabilitation for the homeless and abandoned of Santiago. A tireless apostle of social justice rooted in the Gospel, he wrote influential books on Catholic social doctrine and the spirituality of work. Often seen driving his green pickup truck through the slums of Santiago to gather the homeless, he died of pancreatic cancer at age fifty-one. He is the second canonized saint of Chile.
Life & Times
Also known as: Alberto Hurtado Cruchaga; Padre Hurtado; Apostle of Charity · Born: January 22, 1901 · Died: August 18, 1952 · From: Viña del Mar; Santiago, Chile.
Patronage
St. Alberto Hurtado is invoked as the patron of chile, the homeless, social workers, trade unionists, the hogar de cristo movement. Those in these callings or circumstances often turn to this saint in prayer.
“Christ is homeless. The poor have no home, and Christ is in the poor.”— Speech founding El Hogar de Cristo (Home of Christ), Santiago de Chile, 1944
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About Catholic Saints
Catholic saints, including St. Alberto Hurtado, are Christians whom the Catholic Church has formally recognized as having lived lifes of heroic holiness and who now dwell with God in heaven, offering an example of faith for those still on their earthly journey. Catholics don't worship saints, but ask them to pray to God with us and for us — much as one might ask a trusted friend to pray for them — trusting that those closest to God can join their voices to ours before Him. Discover more saints in the Catholic Shop Saints section.