We begin with a few words from Father Rubio, which reflects what was a normal day in his fruitful and intense life and which could well serve as a letter of introduction: “I woke up early so that I could have time to pray in peace. I want to spend a while with the Friend Jesus Christ before starting the day, there are many stories that need his blessing. Soon I received visits from several people. First, a member of the “Honor Guard” who wanted advice on organizing the Sacred Heart day because about 4,000 people are expected. Then I met to have coffee with a woman member of the “Marías de los Sagrarios”, who asked me to give the Spiritual Exercises to a group this summer.
I left there to celebrate the Eucharist in the convent of the Bernardas nuns. When I finished, I dedicated most of the day to what I like most: exploring the Madrid neighborhood of La Ventilla, lending a hand and something more if possible to serve so many poor families and people in material and, above all, spiritual need… I I arrived late to our community, but it has given me time to have dinner with my colleagues and celebrate the birthday of José María, a great guy. I only have to thank you, Lord, because you have carried me along all day. You already know that I’m slow and behind, but I’m going. That’s why, when they ask me, I always tell them: “do what God wants and want what God does.”
This is how this exemplary priest, born in Dalías (Almería) on July 22, 1864, son of Francisco Rubio Maldonado and Mercedes Peralta González, lived his dedication and dedication. His early childhood passed peacefully in his hometown, until, when he was 11, an uncle of his, also called José María Rubio, who was a canon of the Cathedral of Almería, took him with him to study high school and after One year, seeing that he was a pious and clever boy, he suggested that he enter the Diocesan Seminary to study a priestly career. There he studied Philosophy and Theology and later moved to Granada, where he finished completing his ecclesiastical studies.
One of his professors, named D. Joaquín Torres Asencio, who was also a canon of the Cathedral, decided to sponsor him and when he won the canonry for the Cathedral of Madrid by competitive examination, he decided to take him with him to finish his degree in Theology at the Seminary of Madrid. At the age of 23 he was ordained a priest, officiating his first Mass at the altar of the Virgin of Good Success, in the Cathedral of San Isidro.
Once ordained he began to work in towns in Madrid, as curate in Chinchón and also chaplain of the Poor Clares and later as parish priest in Estremera. Already in the capital he was appointed as chaplain of the Bernardas nuns, in the Church of the Sacramento, which then belonged to the disappeared parish of Almudena. The Church of the Sacrament, when the convent disappeared, was converted into the Military Cathedral.
He began to stand out for his tireless work in the suburbs and poorest areas of Madrid. A man of a withdrawn and simple character, of great charity, he stood out for his extreme austerity and his unconditional dedication to anyone who requested his help. Abusing this availability, one day they wanted to play a bad joke on him, telling him that a dying man was requesting spiritual assistance from him in a private home, which was actually a brothel. One of those friends got into bed, posing as the dying man, with the intention of taking a photo of him inside the brothel, but what would not be everyone’s surprise when upon approaching him, Father Rubio was able to verify that he was really dead. The impact and impression of everyone was such that they decided to radically change their lives, some of them even became a priest, as is the case of the later famous and popular Father Venancio Marcos.
An assiduous and tireless confessor, they say that in his confessional the lines were endless and although he was not a great orator, his sermons captivated and moved hearts. Among his pastoral work we must also highlight having resumed the work of the “Marias of the Tabernacles”, initiated by the holy bishop of Palencia D. Manuel González and having organized several associations, such as the so-called “Guard of Honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus”, achieving that in May 1919 King Alfonso
From a very young age he had wanted to enter the Society of Jesus, but his protector, Mr. Joaquín Torres Asensio, was not a supporter, in the first place, because he did not want to give up his company, the same thing that had happened with his parents, but at the same time When he died after 20 years of living together, he asked for admission. He had always considered himself a “hobbyist Jesuit,” but he accepted the will of God. His motto was “do what God wants and want what God does.” Once his vows had been pronounced, after the year of novitiate, he was assigned to Madrid, in whose professed house on Flor Baja Street he resided for the rest of his life.
When they saw that his delicate health announced an imminent outcome, they took him to the novitiate of Aranjuez, where he died, sitting in an armchair, on May 2, 1929, at the age of 65, after having torn into pieces his spiritual notes, which he requested. were burned. Only the notes that he had been taking survived, along with his personal reflections, from a pilgrimage he made to the Holy Land in 1904 and which were later published in a book with the title “Notes of a Pilgrim to the Holy Land.” Upon his death, the Archbishop of Madrid Leopoldo Eijo y Garay described him as “Apostle of Madrid” and put him as a model for the clergy. His body was initially buried in Aranjuez and later transferred to the cloister of the Jesuit church on Serrano Street in Madrid.
During his life, bilocations, healings, prophecies and clairvoyance were attributed to him, but what predominates in him is the testimony of his word and his example. He was beatified by Saint John Paul II on October 6, 1985 and canonized in Madrid, by the same Pope, on May 4, 2003.
Reflection from the current context:
It will take time for the presence of this good man, who gave his all to serve others, to be erased from the memory of the people of Madrid. Anyone who crosses the threshold of the main door of what is now known as the Military Cathedral of Madrid, will be able to see on one of the sides, as soon as they enter, the confessional where Father Rubio spent endless hours, dispensing God’s forgiveness and grace. and not only this, but also restoring peace to consciences and giving away wise advice, which served both to progress in the spiritual life. to conduct oneself prudently in practical life. Who said that confession only serves to “unload the bag”? Another question: why are the confessionals empty today and with Father Rubio there were kilometer-long queues? Maybe we need confessors like him.
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