Miguel de Benavides

Miguel de Benavides y Añoza, O.P. (c. 1552 – July 26, 1605) was a Spanish clergyman and sinologist who was the third Archbishop of Manila. He previously served as the first Bishop of the Diocese of Nueva Segovia, and was the founder of the University of Santo Tomas in the City of Manila.[1][2]

The Most Reverend Miguel de Benavides O.P.
Archbishop of Manila
Province	Manila
See	Manila
Installed	October 7, 1602
Term ended	July 26, 1605
Predecessor	Ignacio Santibáñez, O.F.M.
Successor	Diego Vázquez de Mercado
Other posts	Bishop of Nueva Segovia
Orders
Ordination	1568
Personal details
Born	c. 1552 Carrión de los Condes, Spain
Died	26 July 1605 (aged 52–53) Manila, Captaincy General of the Philippines
Nationality	Spanish
Denomination	Roman Catholic

Styles of Arzobispo Miguel de Benavides
Reference style	Monseñor
Spoken style	Su Excelencia Reverendísima
Religious style	Reverendísimo

Biography

Miguel de Benavides was born in 1552, to a noble family in Carrión de los Condes, Spain. He entered the Dominican Order in San Pablo de la Moraleja, Valladolid, and later rendered service in Colegio de San Gregorio.[1]

He joined the first group of Dominicans going to Manila in 1587, proceeding with them on to China where he hoped to expand the local Catholic church. He was later exiled, and established a hospital for the Chinese in Binondo, Manila, before becoming the head of his order. He accompanied Bishop Domingo de Salazar, the first bishop of Manila, to Spain to defend the native Filipinos against Spanish oppression.[1]

Bishop

He was appointed as the first bishop of Nueva Segovia and was consecrated in Mexico in 1597.[3] He authored the Doctrina Christiana in Chinese, one of the earliest books printed in the Philippines. He arrived in Nueva Segovia in 1599 but was, after three years, appointed as the Archbishop of Manila on October 7, 1602. His installation in Manila was financed by King Philip III himself, for Benavides was extremely poor. On September 9, 1603, he directed the Franciscans to oversee the Japanese staying in the Philippines. In the same year, he warned the government about the nascent revolt of the Chinese population although he was also criticized for inciting it with his sermons.[1]

Death

He died on July 26, 1605 in Manila.

His library and personal property worth ₱1,500 were donated for the establishment of an institution of higher learning, now known as the University of Santo Tomas.[1]

See also

• Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila
• Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia
• University of Santo Tomas
• Miguel de Benavides Library
• History of University of Santo Tomas
• Roman Catholicism in the Philippines
• First book of the Spanish Philippines

References

1. Aparicio, A.; Tejero, P.; et al. (2006 August). News in Print: Special Issue. Retrieved December 23, 2009, from https://www.scribd.com
2. Gauchat, Patritius (Patrice) (1935). HIERARCHIA CATHOLICA MEDII ET RECENTIORIS AEVI Vol IV. Münster: Libraria Regensbergiana. pp. 261 and 230. (in Latin)
3. "Archbishop Miguel de Benavides, O.P." Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved June 11, 2017

External links and additional sources

• Cheney, David M. "Archdiocese of Manila". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. Retrieved March 25, 2018. (for Chronology of Bishops) ^{[self-published]}
• Chow, Gabriel. "Metropolitan Archdiocese of Manila". GCatholic.org. Retrieved March 25, 2018. (for Chronology of Bishops) ^{[self-published]}
• Miguel de Benavides Library - University of Santo Tomas
• Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila - Official website
• Manila Metropolitan Cathedral - Official website