The Saints: St. Miguel Cordero

1854-1910 / Feast - Feb. 9

Born with crippled legs to a prominent Ecuadoran family, Francisco was schooled at home until age 9, when he began attending a new school run by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. Though his family initially opposed it, 14-year-old Francisco joined the Institute in 1868, becoming Brother Miguel. He taught Spanish and religion in Quito for 38 years, wrote a number of well-regarded textbooks and was elected to several national academies. He died in Europe, and was declared Ecuador’s first saint in 1984.