Vatican opens sainthood cause for Lingayen-Dagupan's first bishop
MANILA, Philippines — The Holy See has opened the cause for sainthood of Lingayen-Dagupan's first bishop, Cesar Maria Guerrero y Dominguez, the archdiocese announced Saturday, February 21.
In a statement, the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan said the Vatican granted the request to initiate the Cause for Beatification and Canonization of Guerrero, who now bears the title “Servant of God.”
In the Catholic Church, the title “Servant of God” is given to a person whose cause for beatification has formally begun.
Who was Guerrero?
Born in Ermita, Manila, on Jan. 26, 1885, Guerrero later studied law at the University of Santo Tomas before entering the priesthood. He completed his ecclesiastical studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome and was ordained on Oct. 28, 1914.
After serving as assistant parish priest in Binondo and secretary to the Archbishop of Manila, he was appointed the first bishop of Lingayen on Feb. 22, 1929.
The archdiocese credited him with establishing the Mary Help of Christians Seminary in Binmaley, Pangasinan.
Guerrero later served as Auxiliary Bishop of Manila and became the first director of Catholic Action of the Philippines.
Wartime accusation. The archdiocese said Guerrero's reputation was affected by accusations of collaboration with Japanese forces during World War II.
After the war, he was charged with treason before the People's Court. His case was summarily dismissed in 1946.
Later years. The archdiocese said Guerrero was initially set to retire to a convent in San Francisco del Monte.
In 1949, however, he was appointed the first bishop of San Fernando, Pampanga, where he became known for promoting devotion to the Virgen de los Remedios.
Guerrero died of a heart attack on March 27, 1961, at age 76. He was buried at the Carmelite Monastery in Angeles, Pampanga.
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