Ferdynand Saperasa
Who they were
Fernando Saperas Aluja was born at Alió, near Tarragona, on 8 September 1905, and showed deep religious devotion from childhood despite the teasing of those around him. He joined the Claretian Missionaries as a lay brother, professing his first vows on 15 August 1929, and served mainly as a cook and doorkeeper, valued by his superiors for his dedication though never admitted to perpetual vows.
When the Spanish Civil War scattered his community at Cervera, he fled into hiding but was found by his persecutors, who tried to force him to betray his religious commitments, especially chastity. He was killed near the cemetery of Tárrega on 13 August 1936, forgiving his attackers as he died. He was beatified with 108 other Claretian martyrs in Barcelona on 21 October 2017.
The miracles
As a martyr he was raised to the altars without a miracle.
Why that counted as sanctity
Claretian lay brother killed for refusing to renounce his religious vows in the Spanish Civil War; beatified on 21 October 2017.
The cause
The cause continues. No postulation address is published here yet. Favours received through this person’s intercession, and offers of help, are best sent to the religious order or congregation they belonged to, or to the diocese where the cause was opened; either will pass them to the postulation.
- Santi, beati e testimoni (santiebeati.it) - Beato Ferdinando Saperas Aluja
- Wikidata Q42393125 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
Checked against the sources listed on 22 September 2026. Corrections welcome.