The Augustinian Recollect Martín Legarra Tellechea (1910-1985) was a direct witness of several great events of the 20th century. He developed his ministerial service with optimism, sympathy and communication skills. His life as a missionary, educator and bishop could have served as a movie script.
Martín returns to Panama with severe hoarseness. It’s Easter, and not even Wednesday nor does he celebrate Holy Thursday due to lack of voice. On Good Friday he gets to read the few phrases of Christ in the reading of the Passion. Holy Saturday he spends in bed.
The doctors make x-rays and discover paralysis of the left vocal cord. But what calls their attention much more are some shadows in the lung. On the 22nd of April they report that there is a tumor of about two or three years of development. For his extension and settings is not operable.
“Cancer! The family disease: my mother, my sister died of cancer Martina, my brother Victor and my brother Santiago. Now is my turn. Praised be the Lord!”
His plan to retire to Saint Augustine School is anticipated and since May 1, he resides in that community. Letters, gifts, telegrams, notes arrive… His parishioners from La Caleta turn to attention and accompany and attend to him, along with two nurses and the Servants of Mary. Also one Augustinian Recollect, his nephew, accompanies him, takes notes, in hours of prayer and confidences.
He rejects the proposal of some friends to take him to Houston: “I have made my choice joyfully. I Can also cause an expense that most of my parishioners couldn’t afford? God has been generous with me.”
On May 11 he receives the Anointing of the Sick in community. He takes advantage of say goodbye to his brothers:
“From now on, forever, brothers, I must thank you. Yes, thank you all. At all times and all of you have been very good, generous and understanding. Brothers, I have felt happy, very happy among you that, at the same time, so many things you have taught me today, while I ask the Lord for forgiveness, I also ask each one of you for my bad examples, for not having collaborated sufficiently to build the community as community of love. Sorry, brothers; my gratitude and love for all of you”.
He records several farewell messages, one for the faithful in Panama, which Monsignor Marcos Gregorio McGrath read at a mass that was being televised. The faithful, knowing that Martín is watching the program, address him with an applause: “Fray Martín, we are with you in the Lord, thank you”.
At four in the afternoon on June 15, 1985, he passed away. The Nuncio said that Martin had given “the greatest lesson that every man is capable of giving: the lesson of his own death.”
The burning chapel was in San Francisco de La Caleta, and the funeral in the Cathedral of Panama City, packed, presided over by the archbishop. someone described that
Martin’s last service of “unifying opposites”: “There were the hierarchies of the Ecumenical churches, our bishops, our seminarians dazzled by emulating promises. There were maids from so many schools, old women, university students, peasants, high-ranking military, bocatorians Indians and cholos Veragüenses, ladies from Altos del Golf, Spaniards, politicians in power or in the exercise of the opposition. His friars covered the coffin with their hands, because they knew their beloved father and brother was leaving them”.
In his homily, the Archbishop of Panama said:
“Martín Legarra was a gift from God to the Church of Panama. In it is patented that expression of Paul VI that “man is worth more for what he is than for what he he does or by what he has ‘. The great value of Martín Legarra, apart from how much he did and will have written, is what he has been and what he is for us: a good man, profoundly good, but with that goodness that comes from God.
A cheerful man with a constant good humor —everyone, when thinking of him, remembers first his smile and some humorous word that he said to us—, with that joy, with that humor, that they were serious, a reflection of a spirit in constant communion with God, his goodness and love.
That goodness of God in him attracted, consoled, encouraged us all. He loved life itself, devoid of frills and formalities, the life that is the relationship with other people, friendship, growing and helping to grow in faith, in the love of God and in God.
‘Life is beautiful’, he told me a few days ago, already very ill. And then he added with a very careful phrase of his, so careful in his expression: ‘Life with a capital letter’ “.
After his funeral, he was buried in the Parque de la Paz, a cemetery located between the Parish and the Saint Augustine College, together with the other Augustinian Recollects deceased in the country, as was his will.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Introduction
- 1. An open mind to the unknown
- 2. Martin and religious life
- 3. Philippines, learning and new responsibilities
- 4. Even more open to the world
- 5. Chronicler of the greatest nightmare
- 6. Martin, educator
- 7. Martin, educator of religious
- 8. Martín is reunited with Spain
- 9. Martin in Bocas del Toro
- 10. Martin in Veraguas
- 11. Bishop emeritus, not retired
- 12. A Week of Easter