GUADIX, Granada, Spain.
On the occasion of the liturgical feast of Saint Pedro Poveda, Fr. Antonio Fajardo, Pastor of Saint Michael Church, has dedicated a space for the veneration of Saint Pedro Poveda, the Apostle of the Caves, at Saint Michael Parish. The reason for choosing this place is that the work of the young priest Poveda in the early twentieth century in the upper area of the Caves was linked to the parish of Saint Michael. Poveda was appointed pastor, but he never took over this position.
Activities to celebrate the feast of Saint Pedro Poveda in Guadix
- July 27: blessing of a painting of St. Pedro Poveda in the parish church of Saint Michael and celebration of the Eucharist presided by the Bishop Ginés Beltrán
- Talk by historian Encarnación González, on: Kindness and friendliness, essential elements of Saint Pedro Poveda.
- July 28, the Brotherhood of the Descent of the Lord prepared a Eucharisic celebration at the “Ermita Nueva, presided by Fr. Manuel Amezcua, Pastor of Our Lady of Grace Church.
Relic
The blessing of the new picture and the enthronement of a relic of St. Pedro Poveda, which was brought by Dr. Encarnación González, postulator of the Cause of Canonization to make it available for the veneration of the faithful, preceded the Eucharist, which was presided by Msgr. Ginés Ramón García Beltrán, Bishop of Guadix. Despite the summer heat of these days, the church was full.
In his homily, Bishop Ginés expressed how the obstacles found in Guadix did not overcome Poveda. Faith knows no cowardice and, in bad times for the men and women of God, that is when it grows.
Poveda's Work continues in Guadix through the Teresian Association. Juanico expressed it well when, asked about Father Poveda, he said, "Thanks to him I am more of a person." Bishop Ginés stressed that this can be a beautiful definition - without Juanico knowing it- of what holiness and the task of evangelization is: to help people become persons.
Explanation of the Painting
At the end of the Mass, Fr. Antonio Fajardo, at the wish of the painter who was present, explained the meaning of the painting.
This is a beautiful oil picture painted by Miguel Angel Garcia Valenzuela, a native of Jaén, who has his shop in Cordoba.Poveda is depicted praying the rosary in front of Our Lady of Grace, said Fr. Antonio Fajardo. His countenance shows the crossroads he found in Guadix. He seems to ask Our Lady: How do I do it? He understood his priesthood from the outset as self-giving, with a love without cracks until the end. Poveda’s confidant, mother, and protector was always Our Lady, and his invocation to Our Lady of Grace reveals it. He prays the rosary, the prayer of the poor and simple. Fr. Fajardo made us pay special attention to some details of the picture: two white flowers, symbols of passion, symbolizing the passion with which the Father Poveda lived his priesthood; two candles symbolizing prayer, and the coat of arms of the Teresian Association with the last phrase Poveda uttered on this earth and that sums up the motto of his life: I am a priest of Jesus Christ.
Generosity and attractiveness, Teresian characteristics of Saint Pedro Poveda
After the Eucharist we moved to the parish hall to listen to the talk by Encarnación González.
Relating Poveda and Saint Teresa served a dual purpose: to pay homage to St. Teresa in the V centenary of her birth and enlighten participants on a question that many people ask: Why Teresian Association?
It is impossible to summarize in a short article all the erudition and depth of the talk but I will try to collect those statements made by the speaker that may answer this question.
The speaker began her talk by reading a poem by José M. Pemán:
Smile full of light, / friendly, clear, and simple. / Oh! Teresa of Jesus, / were you already Teresian?
If Pedro Poveda highlighted something about Teresa, it was the following: her generosity and friendliness, her attractive spirit, her capacity to make difficult things as simple as possible, her "naturalness to the highest degree," her very intimate prayer in the midst of multiple and various daily chores.
The V centenary of her birth (2015) and the not far first centenary of the foundation of the Teresian Association (2011) provide more than enough reasons to deepen into the fact that four centuries later some characteristics of the reformer of the Carmelite Order has become embodied in a new Work of the Church, the Teresian Association. The charism of this Work is in tune with the spirit of Teresa that combines in admirable harmony firm fortitude with the greatest attractiveness and generosity.
Pedro Poveda sees St. Teresa as "All God's” and “eminently human." The key is not in one of the two statements but precisely in the " and" which, while linking the two shows the difference. And he qualifies the relationship because: a life that is all God’s must be distinguished by being eminently human. That is, the human, if informed by the divine, acquires a new excellence, a full qualification, something that sets it apart.
But what is the consequence of this symbiosis between the human and the divine? "That our Mother was such, who can doubt it? Poveda declares. And because she was like that, she won universal attraction, as we have to recognize. If that life was all of God, could she be not generous?" This is his conclusion. The "eminently human" character that should distinguish the person who is "full of God" inevitably generates attractiveness and generosity that are the hallmark of the eminently human.
"Should we destroy that which is human? Never; it is impossible. Try perfecting the human through different means? Vain endeavor. Do without God to perfect his work? Foolish illusion ... The human was perfected and deified because it was filled with God. The Incarnation, properly understood, the Person of Christ, his nature and his life give to those who understand it the safe rule to become holy with true holiness, being human with true humanism. This way we will be generous and our Work will be attractive. "
Father Poveda’s text that we are commenting on, so convincing and accurate was not the result of improvisation.
Was it a coincidence that on October 15, 1903, to begin his 2nd year of the Sacred Heart School of the Ermita Nueva, he chose the name of Saint Teresa for the Asociation of the children of the school? We know that he bought a statue of Saint Teresa 60 cm. high, that he invited many to the opening of the Association of St. Teresa of Avila. The Accitano Newspaper described the celebration in a colorful manner.
What did they celebrate? The creation of the Associationof St. Teresa of Avila, whose members were the first students of the Schools of the Sacred Heart of Jesus...
Offering devotion to Saint Teresa was placing in the middle of the districts of Guadix a high benchmark of humanity and grace, simplicity and culture, naturalness and profound prayer.
Poveda was always attracted, from the beginning, by the plain, frank, simple and communicative personality of Teresa of Jesus. Her generosity and friendliness for him constituted not only an educational program but also a spiritual lifestyle. So, reading Teresa of Jesus, in addition to venturing into the paths of prayer, was like moving in tune with her attractive way of being. Thus, the works of Teresa and celebrating her feast were like joining spirituality and pedagogy in a friendly and attractive manner that characterizes the Work of Poveda, its people and activities.
From 1931, when times got even more difficult in Spain and works of the Church were hindered or even persecuted, the Teresian generosity and attractiveness of Poveda acquired a new and deeper mode: meekness. In a context prone to confrontation, hatred, anxiety and violence, the humble priest Pedro Poveda encouraged peace, understanding, and the greatest charity.
As if synthesizing the soul he wanted to see in the members of the Teresian Association at that critical time, in 1935, the founder insisted on the absolute need for gentleness, serenity, and peace. It was the new and deeper face of a generous, friendly, and attractive Teresian style that at that critical time should manifest itself in sweetness, goodness, and kindness.
Conclusion
The personality of Teresa of Jesus always fascinated Poveda. He admired her because he liked her style, her clever and friendly way to overcome setbacks; her capacity for sacrifice and enthusiastic dedication, her spiritual life centered on love. But what in her was a temperament sublimated by the Lord's grace and virtue, for Poveda is theological reflection; a spirituality of educators.
His pedagogical-spiritual thinking goes hand in hand on two axes: attractiveness-generosity and sacrifice that makes it possible. This places the Teresian spirit at the confluence of two poles: self-sacrificing dedication and generosity –friendliness, generated by love.
Poveda does not consider Teresa as a theorist on joy or the spirit of sacrifice but as the model of what he wanted to see in teachers. He was attracted by the optimistic nature of Teresa of Jesus and, using her writings, he developed the theological and pedagogical basis of the new charism that underpins the Teresian Association.
It is good to not note that the simple act of creating an Association of Saint Teresa of Jesus back in 1902 with the children of the schools may be seen today as the seed, the starting point, of the Teresian spirit of Saint Pedro Poveda, the core of his existence and charism of his life.
Maribel Sancho