Luis Martin y Garcia

Martin y Garcia, Luis, twenty-fourth General of the Society of Jesus; b. of humble parentage at Melgar de Fernamental, Burgos, Spain, August 19, 1846; d. at Fiesole, Italy, April 18, 1906. After a course of six years in the seminary of Burgos, he entered the Society at Loyola, in 1864; studied philosophy at Leon, Vals (Haute-Loire, France), and Poyanne (Landes, France), and theology at the last-named place, where he also taught theology. He was ordained priest in 1876, was successively rector of the seminary at Salamanca, director of “El Mensajero” (The Messenger), superior of the college of Deusto-Bilbao, provincial of Castile, and vicar; and was general of the Society from October 2, 1892, until his death. The disease (sarcoma) which ended his life necessitated the amputation of an arm and other painful operations, which he bore with Christian fortitude. His superior talents were shown in such splendid works as the rebuilding of the great seminary at Salamanca, the foundation of the Cornillense seminary, and his plan for compiling the history of the Society. In prose he wrote with a nervous and graceful style, in verse with a robust sonority and great wealth of imagery, while as a preacher the elegance of his diction, the profoundity of his thought, and his emotional warmth made him almost unrivalled among the Spanish orators of his time. His published works include: “Discurso leido en el tercer centenario de la muerte de Sta. Teresa” (discourse on St. Teresa’s centenary), (Madrid, 1882; Bilbao, 1891; Barcelona, 1908); “De Studiis Theologicis ordinandis” (Bilbao, 1892); an epistle to the fathers and brothers of the society; articles in “El Mensajero”, I (1886), of which he was editor for some years; and some uncollected poems.

ANTONIO PEREZ GOYENA