Saints are made in Spanish prisons

In the prison of Vitoria, Spain, a priest came to visit a prisoner and found him shivering with cold. It was winter and the poor man had only a thin shirt on. The priest took off his cassock, removed his own shirt and sweater and gave them to him. This simple gesture moved the heart of the murderer. On the same day, Juan-José confessed his crime. His whole existence was transformed. From the prison he wrote: "A happy day it was when I entered this prison! This is where I learned to pray and to weep over my sins."

On November 28, 1951, Juan-José was sentenced to death. Alone in his cell, with the passing of time he came to accept his fate. Near the bed were a crucifix and an image of the Blessed Virgin. Every day, he would recite the rosary, pray the stations of the cross and receive communion. He gave up tobacco, coffee, and dessert, and wore a hair-shirt.

One night he saw Saint Therese of Lisieux in a dream: she promised to intercede for him. At the beginning of 1953, he obtained the apostolic blessing from Pope Pius XII for his last hour. He spent the last night in prayer, then attended Mass and received communion. The hour arrived, Juan-José was perfectly calm. A witness later said, "Saints are made in Spanish prisons!"

In Le Sourire de Marie ("The Smile of Mary"), n. 27, March 1975