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Donato Jiménez BibianoBlessed martyr, 1873–1936
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III

Timeline

Sixty-three years of life, and what came after, in twenty-five dates. Each one gives its source. Where two sources disagree, we say so.

  1. 21 Mar 1873

    Born in Alaejos

    At six in the evening, in the family home at number 22, Calle Casasnuevas. He is the youngest of the six children of Miguel Jiménez and Brígida Bibiano.

    Birth record, Alaejos Civil Registry, sec. 1, vol. 6, f. 43. Curriculum vitae (1893), p. 3.

  2. 25 Mar 1873

    Baptised in San Pedro

    He is baptised by the parish priest Tomás Caballero in the church of San Pedro Apóstol, Alaejos, on the feast of the Annunciation.

    Baptismal record, book 15 of baptisms of San Pedro (APRM, Mártires, 1209000).

  3. c. 1877

    His father dies

    Donato is four. His mother keeps the family going with the help of the eldest son.

    Curriculum vitae, p. 3.

  4. 31 Oct 1879

    Confirmation

    In San Pedro, by the Archbishop of Valladolid, Fernando Blanco y Lorenzo.

    Marginal note on the baptismal record.

  5. c. 1883

    First communion

    At the age of ten. That day he goes to give thanks at the hermitage of Our Lady of the Casita, just outside Alaejos.

    Curriculum vitae, p. 5.

  6. Early 1887

    The mission in Alaejos

    The Redemptorists Francisco Negro and Pablo Lorthioit preach for a fortnight in the town. Donato, aged thirteen, is converted and decides to become a missionary.

    Curriculum vitae, p. 7. The letter of Fr Saturnino Martín (1944) dates the mission to 1886.

  7. 1–2 Aug 1887

    The night ride to Nava del Rey

    With three friends he rides through the night to Nava del Rey to celebrate the feast of Saint Alphonsus with the missionaries, on the centenary of his death. They sleep at the door of the Redemptorist house.

    Curriculum vitae, p. 12. Letter of Fr Saturnino, pp. 2–3.

  8. 19 Sep 1887

    He leaves Alaejos

    He enters the Redemptorist juniorate at El Espino (Burgos), where he studies for five years.

    Curriculum vitae, p. 13. Fr Saturnino’s letter gives 26 September as the date of entry at El Espino.

  9. 12 Aug 1892

    Novitiate at Nava del Rey

    There, in 1893, he writes the account of his life now kept in the archive of the cause.

    Curriculum vitae, p. 15 (APRM, Mártires, 1209010).

  10. 8 Sep 1893

    Religious profession

    His friend Saturnino Martín Lucas makes his profession the same day.

    Official biography of the cause. Introduction to Fr Saturnino’s letter (APRM, Mártires, 1209103).

  11. 27 May 1899

    Priestly ordination

    In the chapel of the seminary of Astorga, by Bishop Vicente Alonso Salgado.

    Official biography of the cause. Profile in Testigos de la Redención.

  12. 1902

    Missionary

    After some years in formation work and a second novitiate, he begins his life as a missionary in the communities of Cuenca, El Espino (1904) and Astorga (1907).

    Profile in Testigos de la Redención.

  13. 1915–1930

    Pamplona

    Fifteen years in the Pamplona community, where he is three times rector of San Ignacio.

    Profile in Testigos de la Redención. Statement of Jenaro Xavier Vallejos.

  14. 1930–1936

    Superior

    Superior in Santander (1930), minister in Astorga (1933) and rector of Vigo (December 1934).

    Profile in Testigos de la Redención.

  15. 23 Jun 1936

    Arrives in Madrid

    Assigned to the community of San Miguel Arcángel, in La Latina.

    Official biography of the cause.

  16. 19 Jul 1936

    Goes into hiding

    That night he takes refuge in the home of his friend Jerónimo Fernández Puertas, at number 8, Cava Baja.

    Profiles in Hispania Martyr and Testigos de la Redención.

  17. 13 Sep 1936

    Arrested

    He is arrested at 59 Calle Mayor, in Lola Moreno’s home, and locked in cell number 5 of the Fomento checa.

    Notes of Fr Lucas Pérez (APRM, Mártires, 1209102). Statement of Jenaro Xavier Vallejos.

  18. 16 Sep 1936

    “If they kill us…”

    He hears the confession of young Antonio Gómez Fernández and tells him how they will die: shouting “Long live Christ the King!”.

    Notes of Fr Lucas Pérez, pp. 8–9.

  19. 18 Sep 1936

    Death

    He is taken out of the checa on the night of the 17th. He dies from gunshot wounds at around three in the morning of the 18th, at kilometre 12 of the road to France (Fuencarral).

    Death record, Fuencarral Civil Registry. The official biography says he was killed “probably on the night of the 17th”.

  20. 19 Sep 1936

    Buried without a name

    He is registered as “an unidentified man” and buried in the Fuencarral cemetery. His remains are later lost in the common ossuary.

    Death record. Certificate from the Almudena Cemetery (2006).

  21. Aug 1944

    His memory is gathered

    Fr Lucas Pérez, who has already studied the martyrdom, asks Fr Saturnino Martín for his recollections. Saturnino replies from Gaia (Portugal).

    Letter of Fr Saturnino Martín, dated 25 August 1944 (APRM, Mártires, 1209103).

  22. 2006

    His name is restored

    He is identified by an order of 21 March 2006, and a marginal note of 28 April corrects the 1936 record. On 19 September the diocesan inquiry of the cause opens in Madrid.

    Marginal note on the death record. Profile in Testigos de la Redención.

  23. 27 Nov 2007

    The diocesan phase closes

    The cause, protocol number 2724, passes to Rome.

    Profile in Testigos de la Redención.

  24. 24 Apr 2021

    Decree of martyrdom

    Pope Francis authorises the decree recognising the martyrdom of Vicente Renuncio Toribio and his eleven companions.

    Dicastery for the Causes of Saints. News release from the Redemptorist Missionaries.

  25. 22 Oct 2022

    Beatification

    In Almudena Cathedral, Madrid. Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, presides as the Pope’s delegate.

    Archdiocese of Madrid. Redemptorist Missionaries.