Arnáiz Barón, Rafael, Bl.
ARNÁIZ BARÓN, RAFAEL, BL.
Trappist Oblate mystic; b. Burgos, Spain, April 9, 1911; d. San Isidro de Dueños, Palencia, Spain, April 26, 1938. Rafael Arnáiz, the eldest of four children in a socially prominent family, was educated by the jesuits, then studied architecture in Madrid. Following the completion of his military service, he joined the trappists at San Isidro de Dueños in Palencia (1933). Almost immediately diabetes mellitus forced him to return home. When he was better, Rafael returned to San Isidro, but was never able to become a monk because of his health. Another attack brought about his death at age twenty-seven. He is remembered both for his continual search for unity with God and for his spiritual writings, which attracted pilgrims to his grave at San Isidro. He was beatified by John Paul II, Sept. 27, 1992.
Bibliography: r. arnÁiz barÓn, Vida y escritos de Fray María Rafael Arnáiz Barón, ed. m. barÓn, 10th ed. (Madrid 1974). j. alvarez, Rafael (Burgos 1952). a. cobos soto, La "pintura mensaje" del hermano Rafael: estudio crítico de la obra pictórica del venerable Rafael Arnáiz Barón, "monje trapense" (Burgos 1989). l. maqueda, Un secreto de la Trapa, 2d. ed. (Burgos 1993).
[k. i. rabenstein]