St. Turibius was born at Mayorga in Leon, Spain and came from a noble family. He studied law and became a university professor of law and then a famous judge of the Court of the Inquisition at Granada.

He was a good Christian and was known to be honest and wise. An unusual thing happened to him that changed his whole life. He was asked to become the archbishop of Lima, Peru as they badly needed and were looking for one. First of all, he was not a priest. Second, Peru was in far away South America.

Many people in the Church knew that Turibius had the qualities for this trusted position. He begged to be excused from the honor. But when he learned about the miserable condition of the native people of Peru, he could not refuse. He wanted to help them and to bring them the faith. He was ordained a priest and set out for Peru.

As archbishop, St. Turibius traveled all over the country. He made his way over the snowy mountains on foot. He walked over the hot sands of the seashore. He built churches and hospitals. He started the first school in Latin America for the training of priests. Such a school is called a seminary.

He learned the different native languages. He wanted the people to be able to listen to homilies at Mass and go to confession in their own language. He protected the natives who were often cruelly treated by their Spanish Conquerers.

St. Turibius loved the people of Peru. He spent the rest of his life as a priest and bishop for them. He died on March 23, 1606, at the age of sixty-eight at Santa in Peru. He is the patron saint of Latin American bishops and the people of Peru.

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