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The cause
THE BEATIFICATION PROCESS
In March 1983, the Father General of the Order, Father Ignacio Vizcarguenaga, the Postulator of the Order, Father Teodoro Zamalloa and the Father Provincial of our Province, Father José Antonio Echevarría, came to the convent of Algorta with the good news that the Beatification of the Venerable Domingo Iturrate would take place in July. Faced with this good news, the entire Community and the religious of the Order were delighted and saw that it was necessary to communicate such a auspicious event for Bizkaia to the religious and civil authorities, since he was the second Blessed of Bizkaia.
MEETING WITH THE AUTHORITIES
The first person to be visited was the Bishop of the Diocese, Mr. Luis María Larrea. He was informed of the upcoming beatification of the Venerable Domingo Iturrate, which would be at the end of July and that he would be responsible for requesting his nomination at the time of the Beatification. The Bishop was very pleased to receive the news and his willingness to prepare everything and be present at the Vatican.
The second visit was to the General Deputy of Bizkaia, Mr. Jose Mª Makua, to whom the news and the invitation to be present at the Vatican on such a special day were also transmitted. The General Deputy promised that a representative of the Regional Government would be present, as was Mr. Antonio Aurre, President of the General Assemblies of Bizkaia.
The invitation had to be communicated to the Lehendakari (Basque President), Mr. Carlos Garaikoetexea. One morning the Lehendakari received us in Ajuria Enea and in a pleasant conversation he told us that he would like to go as a representative of Basque Country and if not, he would send a representative. Finally, Javier Caño, Councillor of the Presidency of the Basque Government, attended.
PREPARATION FOR THE EVENT
A commission was appointed to prepare the Beatification. First of all, it was necessary to write several biographies of the new Blessed. For the popular edition, Father Manuel Fuentes, a Trinitarian, wrote the pamphlet THE WILL TO BE A SAINT. Another more extensive and documented one, COMMITTED YOUTH – BLESSED DOMINGO ITURRATE, was written by Father Carlos María Zabala, a Trinitarian, and a pamphlet, EXPERIENCES OF FATHER DOMINGO, was written by Father Juan Mª Iturrate.
The painter Víctor Sarriugarte was also commissioned to paint the painting that would be on the façade of the Vatican on the day of the Beatification. It is currently in the Parish of the Most Holy Redeemer, on the wall above the entrance to the chapel of the Blessed.
For the pilgrimages to Rome, the travel agency Panavisión was hired and Father Juan Mª Iturrate was in charge of speaking with them.
Regarding the propaganda of the Beatification and the various trips that were going to be organized, the HOJA DEL P. DOMINGO spread all the information with pictures, brochures and posters.
THE DIFFICULTIES BEGIN
The first was that the documented life of Father Carlos Maria was taking too long and would not be ready by the end of July. Faced with this fact, the Postulator, Father Teodoro, asked the Holy See to postpone the beatification until the month of October, which was granted until the 30th.
The second was that on August 23 there were floods in Bilbao and the printing press that was preparing the books was submerged in mud and slime. Time was pressing and we saw that the books were not going to be published. The directors of the printing press told us that they would work day and night and that the books would be ready for the beatification. The truth is that, after much suffering, the books arrived when the buses left for Rome.
The third was that 15 days before the beatification, the Postulator called from Rome saying that the painting that Victor Sarriugarte had painted did not have the dimensions required to be placed in the Vatican loggia. A canvas with the required dimensions was quickly found in Barcelona and the painter Sarriugarte, with a tenacity worthy of mention, day and night, painted the painting, which he had previously designed, according to the required measurements.
The painter prepared a box to send it by air to Rome. Father Juan Mª took the box and delivered it at the Bilbao airport for shipment to Rome. And here comes the surprise: at lunchtime we realize that the painter had not put the canvas in the box and therefore had not taken it to the airport. By calling the airport, it was possible to fix it, since the box had not left for Rome.
The last obstacle was that, when they went to pick him up at the airport in Rome, they were told that, since it was a painting, a special permit was needed to take it out and that it could take between a month and a half and two months. And the beatification was in a few days. Finally, the Postulator Father, Teodoro Zamalloa, through the Vatican, was able to get him out of customs and thus present him in due time at the Vatican.
The rest of the pilgrims, about 800 in 5 buses from Bizkaia, others from Madrid and Córdoba and several by plane, had no problems. In the end, it was worth going through some hardships and sufferings because the pilgrimage ended with great joy.
TO THE YOUNG
Many young people have given up on their ideals. Others live them in an excessive and destructive way… A young person without ideals is condemned to debasement. A young person with unbridled ideals sinks into the abyss of fanaticism. It is faith that truly helps young people to choose their ideals and to live them with authenticity and generosity. The life of Domingo Iturrate is a testimony for our young people. He shows them what an ideal correctly understood and nobly lived can do for us.
(Pastoral Exhortation of the Bishops of Bilbao on the occasion of the Beatification)
THE DAY OF THE BEATIFICATION
It was 9:15 a.m. on October 30, 1983. The sky was grey. A crowd of pilgrims were gathering along the streets adjacent to St. Peter’s Square to attend the beatification of Santiago de Cusmano, Domingo Iturrate, a Trinitarian religious, and Geremia of Wallachia.
Little by little, St. Peter’s Square was filling up. A journalist approached Father Juan Mª and said to him after the greeting: “Look, I understand that they beatify Santiago Cusmano and Geremia of Wallachia, because they are outstanding figures for their work in the church. But I don’t understand that they beatify Domingo Iturrate, who was a friar who never left the convent.”
He answered him: “Look, all the people who are coming in by way of Conciliation. How many of them does God call to be founders of congregations, like Cusmano or a famous man for his works of mercy like Geremia? Few, or perhaps none. But Domingo’s message is very simple and for everyone, a daily requirement: I will not deny God anything, doing the ordinary thing extraordinarily well, without others noticing it.”
And the journalist answered him: “Now I understand. That is enough for me.”
For some reason, when the Vicar General of the Order informed Monsignor Salotti, General Promoter of the faith, of the death of Father Domingo, he answered with his arm raised: “Leave me alone… that was a saint.” Then, addressing Father Antonino, the Blessed’s spiritual director, he said: “Tomorrow I will celebrate the mass in suffrage of Father Domingo, but from then on I will entrust myself to him in all my needs. I warn you that you should gather all possible information to prepare the process for introducing the Cause.”
All Christians are called to holiness. Holiness is a gift from God and our task. Dominic collaborated with grace: “I will try to follow divine inspirations with all punctuality.” He knew how to fight, overcome himself, be constant, even though he saw his weakness more than four times.
The Pope highlighted three characteristics in his constant drive towards holiness: his Trinitarian and Eucharistic experience; the charitable-redemptive-liberating dimension and his profound Marian love.
And he lives all this every day, in the tension of faith and love. He is very clear: “The important thing is not to do many things, but to do well everything that is pleasing to God.” Neither more nor less. This is holiness.
THE VISION OF HIS BROTHER IGNATIUS
ON THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS BEATIFICATION, THIS IS HOW HIS BROTHER IGNACIO DESCRIBED HIM
What was Blessed Domingo like?
I met him when he was a “saint.” He was 26 years old and I was 12. I think he had passions, like everyone else, and that he would have had to do a lot of violence in many things. But, when I met him, I was struck by his equanimity and gentleness. As an example, I will say what happened to me myself. I was studying Latin in my first years. And, like everyone else in those first years, it was not easy for me. We had a teacher who, when we failed, would angrily reproach us. I asked my brother to explain and help me with my Latin. I had my faults in Latin, but my brother never flinched or reproached me for anything. It has been a memory that I have kept as an example of something special that I saw in my brother.
What aspects of his life caught your attention?
The first thing that surprised me was his love for the Eucharist. In those years, I still did not understand much about prayer. And, when I saw my brother after Mass, in a contemplation that was unknown to me, I asked him to teach me how to pray. Then he taught me practically, praying with me. That left a deep mark on me, seeing how he spoke with God after celebrating Holy Mass.
Another thing I discovered in him was his great love for the Virgin. I remember the phrase he said to me: “Ignatius, if you love the Virgin, everything will go well for you.”
His acceptance of pain also caught my attention. He knew that his illness had no cure. But he was very calm and always had a smile on his lips. A few days before his death, he wrote us his last letter, in which he said goodbye to everyone until eternity.
And, of course, his devotion to the Holy Trinity. He headed all his letters like this: “May the Holy Trinity reign in our souls.” If the mouth speaks out of the abundance of the heart, it must be said that these headings of his letters were an indication of his strong devotion to the Holy Trinity.
What aspects of Blessed Dominic’s holiness would you point out as most imitable?
Everything in Blessed Dominic is imitable, given that he lived in circumstances similar to ours. I would like to highlight, however, his fidelity in not denying anything to God, in doing the ordinary things extraordinarily well, without others noticing; and his service, above all, to the sick. I would also like to remember that phrase he wrote in his spiritual notes: “every effort is a step forward.” With this he encouraged himself to overcome his difficulties. I think that we can all choose this phrase as a program for our Christian life.
(Interview published in Hoja Trinitaria following the Beatification)
CELEBRATIONS
EVERY YEAR, IN MAY AND JUNE, DIFFERENT CELEBRATIONS ARE ORGANIZED AROUND THE DATE OF BIRTH OF THE BLESSED
Triduum and Mass at the Holy Redeemer
The feast in honour of our Blessed is celebrated on 11 May, the day of his birth, after a triduum of preparation that will take place the three days prior at 8:00 p.m. The parish celebration begins with masses at 9:00 a.m. and at 11:00 a.m., the latter being a family Mass. At 12:30 p.m., a concelebrated Mass will be held, in which the parish groups, friends of the Blessed and the parish choir will participate. The entire community comes together for this beautiful occasion of faith and togetherness.
Prayer march and mass at Dima's birthplace
Every year, on the Saturday before the feast of Blessed Domingo Iturrate, a three-kilometer prayer march takes place, from the square in Dima to the Blessed’s birthplace. At 6:00 p.m., after the greeting and remembrance of the journeys that the boy Domingo would make along this path, with a prayer and song, the march begins. At each hermitage, a reflection, prayer and song are made. At the birthplace, more people wait, arriving by bus, car or on foot. The Eucharist, with the Dima choir, encourages us to follow the path of Blessed Domingo. At the end, the relic is kissed and his intercession is requested. The day ends with a snack.
Annual meeting of the Iturrates
The first Saturday in June is the meeting of the large Iturrate family. For more than forty years, the relatives of the Blessed have met to remember him and strengthen their ties. Normally the meeting place changes, although they all follow a similar pattern. It begins in the morning with the meeting of all the participants and then at midday the Eucharist is celebrated. Finally, the day ends with a fraternal meal.
PHOTO GALLERY
TRINITARIAN NETWORK
