Bishop Codina

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria · Category: Memory · Subcategory: Historic sites

Bishop Don Buenaventura Codina y Augerolas (1785-1857) was considered "the defender of the poor and ill". He suffered being banished, misunderstood, persecuted at times, due to the political comings and goings of the time. The poor and the infirm were the subject of his pastoral concerns. His writings in their defence are a reflection of those by his spiritual father San Vicente de Paul. He was promoted as bishop in 1847 but turned it down three times, although in the end he did accept, really in obedience to orders. During the cholera outbreak in 1851, he spent hours visiting the homes around Triana to attend to all those affected, then took over the chaplaincy of the Hospital when the then manager, S. Martín passed away. When he was exhumed his body was incorrupt, and by a town hall decree, is presently preserved in a glass urn. The process of his beatification and canonization has been ongoing for years now.

His spirit lives on in the words he put to Minister Bravo Murillo in 1851:

Since I have been at this Bishopric I have never shied away from introducing health reforms in public and private ethics. Much has been achieved thanks to the grace of God, through my preachings I have carried out continually. This Church is the poorest one, and is the partner chosen for me by the will of God. I will care for it as long as I am able, and when I am no longer able, I will request retirement in order to finish my days in peace, and prepare myself to give account of my life, when presented to the council of  Our Lord Jesus Christ. 

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