José María García Lahiguera
Spanish Roman Catholic Archbishop of Valencia (1903-1989)
Who they were
José María García Lahiguera was born at Fitero in Navarre, Spain, on 9 March 1903 and was ordained priest in Madrid on 29 May 1926. He served the Madrid seminary for many years as teacher and spiritual director; during the Civil War he helped scattered priests and seminarians in secret and was himself imprisoned for a time.
With María del Carmen Hidalgo de Caviedes he founded the Oblate Sisters of Christ the Priest, begun on 25 April 1938, to pray and offer themselves for the holiness of priests. He became auxiliary bishop of Madrid in 1950, Bishop of Huelva in 1964 and Archbishop of Valencia from 1969 to 1978. He took part in the Second Vatican Council, and died in Madrid on 14 July 1989.
The miracles
The Church has not yet approved a miracle in this cause.
Why that counted as sanctity
A Spanish archbishop devoted to the holiness of priests, founder of the Oblate Sisters of Christ the Priest.
The cause
José María García Lahiguera has been declared Venerable; the cause continues. Favours received, and offers of help, go to the postulation, the office that carries the cause forward: Catholic Action saints foundation: Venerable José María García Lahiguera.
Connected on this site
- María del Carmen Hidalgo de Caviedes y Gómez Servant of God“With Archbishop José María García Lahiguera she founded the Oblate Sisters of Christ the Priest, a contemplative congregation offering its life for priests.” — this site's research
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis 105 (2013), pp. 529-532 - Decree on heroic virtues, 27 June 2011
- Wikidata Q5942942 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — José María García Lahiguera (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 22 September 2026. Corrections welcome.