MARTÍNEZ, LUIS MARÍA

Archbishop of Mexico, author, preacher, and peacemaker; b. Molinos de Caballero, Tlalpajahua, Michoacán, June 9, 1881; d. Mexico City, Feb. 8, 1956. Before he was quite ten years old, Martínez entered the seminary in Morelia where he performed brilliantly, winning prizes in Latin, philosophy, theology, and law. While he was a subdeacon, he became prefect of the Instituto del Sagrado Corazón, and in 1903, vice rector. In 1904 he returned to the seminary as prefect of discipline, and was ordained that fall. Much of Martínez' life was associated with this seminary; he was made vice rector in 1905 and rector in 1919, the same year he became a canon of the cathedral. Dominating the institution for more than a generation, his spirit and his learning exerted a major influence on many priests.

In 1922 Martínez was appointed apostolic administrator of Chilapa and the next year made titular bishop of Anemurio and auxiliary to the archbishop of Morelia. Having been consecrated Sept. 30, 1923, he was designated vicar general (1925), at the height of the religious persecution that forced Abp. Ruiz y Flores into exile. Martínez was in charge of the Church until the archbishop returned in 1929. During this time he skillfully negotiated with the government and saved many churches in Michoacán from being seized for nonreligious purposes. He was named coadjutor with the right of succession in Morelia in 1934, but Feb. 20, 1937, he was nominated as archbishop of Mexico; he took possession of his see in April. In Mexico City his diplomatic skill, simplicity, and compassion helped to bring about better relations between Church and State, bringing an end to active persecution, and even gaining the friendship of President Miguel Alemán. Under such improved circumstances he was able to build the new seminary and to continue the work of restoring the cathedral, a project for which he enlisted the active support of the laity.

Martínez was a renowned preacher and writer. Among his published works are El espíritu santo, Simientes divinas, A propósito de un viaje, Santa María de Guadalupe, Jesus, and La pureza en el ciclo litúrgico. He was a member of the Academia Mexicana de la Lengua. Its director, Alejandro Quijano, receiving him into membership for his literary work, his preaching, and his teaching, described his prose as beautiful and elegant, imbued with his love of God, his extraordinary sensitivity, and that most rare of virtues, a universal sympathy. Martínez was a friend of letters generally and a patron of many publications. He traveled widely and was highly esteemed both outside and within Mexico. A politician in the best sense of the word, he transformed an embattled, restricted Mexican Catholicism into a living part of the community, ready for action and change.

[j. guisay azevedo]