29 August 1962(1962-08-29) (aged 83) Guarda, Portugal
Sainthood
Venerated in
Roman Catholic Church
Title as Saint
Venerable
Attributes
Episcopal attire
João de Oliveira Matos Ferreira (1 March 1879 – 29 August 1962) was a PortugueseRoman Catholic prelate and bishop who served in Guarda from his appointment in 1922 until his death. He was also the founder of the League of the Servants of Jesus.[1]
The process for his beatification led on 3 June 2013 to Pope Francis declaring him Venerable as recognition of his life of heroic virtue.[1] The pope must approve one miracle attributed to him in order for him to be beatified; one such case is now under investigation.
Life
João de Oliveira Matos Ferreira was born on 1 March 1879 in Portugal to Antonio de Oliveira Matos Ferreira. He had four brothers and one of those brothers was a priest.
He was ordained to the priesthood on 28 March 1903 and served as a personal assistant to the Archbishop of Braga. From 1920 to 1923 he was the Apostolic Visitor of Guarda. He was appointed as a bishop in the Guarda diocese on 11 December 1922. He was also made a Titular Bishop at the same time and received his episcopal consecration in 1923. He also went on to establish the League of the Servants of Jesus.[1]
The beatification process commenced on 29 November 1993 in Guarda and the local process spanned from 1994 until 1998; the process was ratified on 13 November 1998. The Positio was then forwarded to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome in 2008.[citation needed]
A miracle attributed to him was investigated and the process of investigation closed at the beginning of 2010. It was ratified on 19 November 2010.[citation needed]
