Today we celebrate the solemnity of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, patron saint of Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa. The patrons of Bizkaia are Saint Ignatius of Loyola and Saint Valentine of Berriotxoa, who is the second patron or co-patron. San Ignacio He is, in turn, patron of Gipuzkoa. The 12:00 pm mass, in the Santiago’s cathedral, presided over by the vicar general, Kerman Lopez, will be broadcast live on this website.
San Ignacio born in Loyola in 1491. He was appointed patron of the Diocese of Bilbao by Pius XII in the Bull of erection of the Diocese “Quo commodius” of November 2, 1949. He was already patron of the Lordship of Biscay by choice of the General Meetings of Guernsey in 1680, ratified by Innocent XI in 1682.
The second patron of the Diocese, Valentine’s Day in Berriotxoa, Born in Elorrio (Bizkaia) in 1827. He was a Dominican religious, missionary and bishop in IndochinaHe died a martyr in Tonkín in 1861. He was canonized on June 19, 1988 and proclaimed second patron of the Diocese of Bilbao on August 18, 1989.