Turibius of Mogrovejo

Born at Mayorga in Castile in 1538, he taught law at Salamanca and presided over the Inquisition tribunal of Granada — as a layman, which was irregular. Philip II named him in 1579 to the see of Lima; he refused, pleading that he was not even a priest, then gave way. Hastily ordained, he landed in Peru in 1581 and found a diocese half the size of France, where the Indians were evangelised in a language they did not speak. He learned Quechua, required the catechism to be translated into it and printed, held three provincial councils, founded the first seminary in the Americas and visited his territory on foot and by mule for twenty-five years. He himself confirmed Rose of Lima and Martín de Porres. He died on visitation, at Saña, on 23 March 1606.