Historical and biographical review of some of the main figures of the Province of Saint Nicholas of Tolentine of the Order of Augustinian Recollects from its foundation to the present day.
He was born in Fréscano, in the Spanish province of Zaragoza, on 11 July 1825. He professed in 1846 and, after completing his ecclesiastical studies in Huesca and Zaragoza, received his presbyteral ordination two years later, in 1848.
He soon displayed aptitude for the teaching profession, which led to his recommendation to teach classes in philosophy and, in 1852, theology, which he did at the convent of Monteagudo until his departure for the Philippines in 1860 in the fifty-second mission.
In Manila, he became widely known for his eloquence and vast erudition in the pulpits, especially at San Sebastian Church during the novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
In 1861, he became rector of Monteagudo and continued his teaching in Marcilla until 1896. In 1877, the Province entrusted him with the task of improving the teaching conditions of the natural sciences at Monteagudo. In Paris, he acquired tools for Physics, a laboratory for Chemistry, and an exposition for Botany.
In 1891, he was elected general councillor, a position he held until his death on 19 August 1899.
A Renowned Gifted Speaker
Mareca possessed a privileged intelligence and was endowed with extensive knowledge. In both the Philippines and Spain, he distinguished himself as a speaker during commemorative occasions, such as the inauguration of the college seminary of Marcilla in 1865, that of San Millán de la Cogolla in 1878, and the 15th Centenary of the Conversion of Saint Augustine in 1887.
For his preaching, he customarily outlined his ideas on paper, which he then developed as he spoke. His sermons were rarely preserved in their entirety, such as the funeral oration for Archbishop Aranguren or a sermon on the Immaculate Conception.
Brilliant Professor
Mareca taught for fifty years. He obtained his degrees as Professor of Canon Law (1861) and Retired Professor, marks of distinction granted only to distinguished individuals.
He authored the Plan of Studies (curriculum) of 1878, which represented a significant advancement in quality. He established that the ecclesiastical career should last seven years and that the program should be enriched with subjects such as physical and natural sciences, Church History, Sacred Scripture, and public speaking.
Nevertheless, the seasoned professor never submitted any work to the press, nor were any of his works published, except for a speech intended to be delivered—but ultimately not—at the Second National Catholic Congress in Zaragoza in 1890. The magazine Dogma y Razón [Dogma and Reason] later published it.
In 1880, he prepared two voluminous books on Dogmatic Theology in Latin for printing, but they were not published either.
