Young Carmelite Pablo Alonso Hidalgo died Sat., July 15, 2023, at age 21 on the eve of the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, less than a month after professing his perpetual vows as a Carmelite.
“We communicate that this morning, in the Carmelite Convent of S. Andrés de Salamanca, Friar Pablo María de la Cruz Alonso Hidalgo gave his life to the Father,” Prior Provincial, Friar Salvador Villota Herrero said.
“’I am the Resurrection and the Life,’ says the Lord. Those who died with Christ, our Love, and our Hope, will rise with Him. May the souls of the faithful departed, especially our brother Pablo María de la Cruz, rest in peace. Recommend him in your sufferings and prayers. Present it to the Lord and to our Blessed Mother of Carmel. Amen,” he concluded.
The young man entered Carmel and professed his vows “in articulo mortis” (in danger of death) on June 25 at the Church of the Carmen de Abajo in Salamanca, Spain. He took the name Pablo María de la Cruz.
Pablo was diagnosed with an incurable cancerous tumor at age 16.
“It is my desire to consecrate myself to God and live ‘in the gift of Jesus Christ.’ My illness is going fast. From God we come and to God we will go. The Father in his infinite mercy will soon call me to be with Him,” said the religious.
During the profession of vows ceremony, celebrant Father Salvador Villota emphasized that the Lord “filled [Pablo] with this great gift of wanting to live only for Him, and saying that this is life and what I want is Christ.”
The young man recited his vows surrounded by family and friends: “I, Pablo María de la Cruz Alonso Hidalgo, with full confidence and firm will, consecrate myself totally to God and promise to live in the gift of Jesus Christ, imitating the illustrious examples of the Virgin Mary, the prophet Elijah, our father, and the saints of Carmel…”
Pablo’s funeral took place on Mon., July 17 at 10 am at the Church of Carmen de Abajo.