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Friar Magin Catalá, O.F.M. Canonization Records
Finding aid created by Archives of the Archdiocese of San Francisco staff using RecordEXPRESS Archives of the Archdiocese of San Francisco 320 Middlefield Road Menlo Park, California 94025 (650) 328-6502 [email protected] https://sfarchdiocese.org/archives 2021
Friar Magin Catalá, O.F.M. SC.020 1 Canonization Records Descriptive Summary Title: Friar Magin Catalá, O.F.M. Canonization Records Dates: 1882-1909 Collection Number: SC.020 Creator/Collector: Extent: 1.5 linear feet Repository: Archives of the Archdiocese of San Francisco Menlo Park, California 94025 Abstract: Magin Catalá y Guash (1761-1830), a native of Catalonia, came to California in 1793 as a Franciscan missionary. He served the bulk of his ministry at Mission Santa Clara from 1794 to 1830, where he died with a reputation for holiness and miracles among the Indians and Spanish-speaking inhabitants. Thirty years after his death, this reputation came to the attention of Catholic Church authorities. In 1884 the Archbishop of San Francisco, Joseph Alemany, initiated a formal investigation using the inquisitorial process specified by canon law procedure. In response to a request from Rome for more information the next archbishop conducted additional inquiries in 1908-1909. The records from both procedures including the testimony of the witnesses comprise this body of records. Language of Material: English Access Collection open for research Publication Rights All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Archivist at the Archives of the Archdiocese of San Francisco (AASF), 320 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025. Consent is given on behalf of the Archives of the Archdiocese of San Francisco as the owner of the physical items and its copyright holder. Preferred Citation Friar Magin Catalá, O.F.M. Canonization Records. Archives of the Archdiocese of San Francisco Acquisition Information Archbishop Joseph S. Alemany, OP as the ruling bishop or “ordinary” had the authority to convoke a tribunal to gather evidence regarding the holiness of Friar Magin Catalá, a Franciscan missionary in California. Upon completion of the tribunal, an authenticated copy of the proceedings along with related documentation was deposited in the Archives of the Archdiocese. Scope and Content of Collection These records result from the formal investigation made by Archbishop Joseph Alemany of San Francisco concerning the claims of mission Indian descendants and Californios families about the holiness and miracles of Friar Magin Catalá, the reputed “Holy Man of Santa Clara.” The collection is primarily comprised of official documentation and correspondence between Archbishop Alemany and priests who assisted with the proceedings and collected testimonial evidence. A total of 32 depositions were recorded including those provided by Juana Briones, Rafaela Soto de Pacheco, Romualda Lorenzana, among others. The testimonies were documented in Spanish and Italian, and English translations conducted at the time are also included in the collection. The records are divided into three series. The first concerns the preparations made by Archbishop Alemany for a formal canon law tribunal to investigate the claims. The second series consists of the proceedings of that tribunal convened during 1884-1885 at Mission Santa Clara, the location associated with Friar Magin. Archbishop Riordan convoked a second tribunal during the years 1908-1909 to continue the investigation into additional matters related to the earlier tribunal. These tribunal proceedings comprise the third series of records. Catalá Canonization Records Inventory
Friar Magin Catalá, O.F.M. SC.020 2 Canonization Records