Today, March 23, is the commemoration of Saint Toribio de Mogrovejo.
Born to the nobility in 1538, Toribio was named after St. Toribio de Astorga. As a child, Toribio had a devotion to the Virgin Mary, fasted in her honor, and recited rosaries.
He became a lawyer and law professor in Saamanca, Spain. He became a priest at 40 years old and, later, a judge of the Court of the Inquisition.
In 1579, Pope Gregory XIII named him Archbishop of Lima, Peru. He was a dedicated archbishop, traveling on foot, never minding the wild winds, strong heat, and untamed animals along the way. He wanted to minister to the people however which way it would cost him.
He baptized many people during his term, among them were Saints Rose of Lima, Martin de Porres, and Francis Solano.
He founded the first seminary in the Western Hemisphere and fought for the rights of the natives against the Spanish masters.
Toribio predicted the date of his own death. He caught a fever during a pastoral visit. The sickness did not hinder him from continuing his mission. Before dying on the date and time that he predicted (Holy Thursday of 1606 at 3:30PM), he forced himself to get up and receive the Viaticum and said, “Into Your hands I commend my spirit.”
He was beatified in 1679 by Blessed Pope Innocent XI. Servant of God Pope Benedict XIII canonized him in 1726.