Pedro Poveda Castroverde
Born	December 3, 1874 Linares, Spain
Died	July 28, 1936(1936-07-28) (aged 61) Madrid, Spain
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church
Beatified	October 10, 1993, Rome, Italy by Pope John Paul II
Canonized	May 4, 2003, Madrid, Spain by Pope John Paul II
Patronage	Teresian Association

Pedro Poveda, priest, martyr, and founder of the Teresian Association, was born in Linares, Spain on December 3, 1874.

Life

Pedro Poveda was born December 3, 1874 at Linares, Spain. He entered the seminary in Jaen in 1889, and then transferred to the seminary of Guadix, Grenada, where he had offered a scholarship.^[1] Ordained on April 17, 1897, at the age of twenty-three. He taught at the seminary, continued his studies, and received his licentiate in theology in Seville in 1900.

In 1902 he was assigned to preach a Lenten mission in Guadix to a group of people so poor they lived in caves. He began Christian doctrine classes, then a school for boys and girls, a dining room and evening classes for adults. He collected funds for the project, travelling through the province and to Madrid where he also had good friends. Until, through envy and jealousy, he became the target of accusations and gossip, to the point of mistrust by his own bishop. Poveda did not seek confrontation. Things became so difficult that the young priest chose to leave, Guadix, quietly and heartbroken.^[2]

In 1906, he was named a canon of the Basilica of Covadonga, Asturias. His time in Guadix had impressed Pedro with the need for education for the poor. He began to published articles and pamphlets on the question of the professional formation of teachers.^[1] In 1911 Pedro founded the Saint Teresa of Avila Academy, the foundation of Institución Teresiana. He joined the Apostolic Union of Secular Priests in 1912, wrote on the need for more teachers, and opened teacher training centers. He returned to teaching at the seminary at Jaen, served as spiritual director of Los Operarios Catechetical Centre, and taught religion at the Teachers Training School. In 1914 he opened Spain’s first university residence for women in Madrid.

He named his organization the Teresian Association, under the protection of Saint Teresa of Jesus, a learned and holy woman,^[2] In 1921 he was transferred to Madrid and was appointed a chaplain of the Royal Palace. In 1922 he was appointed to the Central Board Against Illiteracy, and he continued to work with the Teresian Association; it received papal approval in 1924, and later spread to Chile and Italy.^[3]

When the Civil War broke out, he was identified as an enemy by those who wished to dechristianize the schools. A few days before his death he wrote, "Now more than ever we must study the lives of the first Christians so as to learn form them how to behave in times of persecution. See how they obeyed the Church, how they confessed Christ, how they prepared for martyrdom, how they prayed for their persecutors and forgave them...."^[2]

At dawn, on July 28th, 1936 a group of paramilitaries came to search his house. Fr. Pedro identified himself,“I am a priest of Christ". ^[2] He was shot by firing squad for his faith and for the cause of Christian education.^[3]

Veneration

He was beatified by Pope John Paul II at St. Peter's Basilica on October 10, 1993, together with Victoria Diez, a member of the Teresian Association. This association has schools around the world, including Brazil. He was canonized on May 4, 2003, by Pope John Paul II in Madrid, Spain.^[3] His work is continued by the many men, women and youth on the four continents where the Teresian Association is.

Legacy

"St Peter Poveda, grasping the importance of the role of education in society, undertook an important humanitarian and educational task among the marginalized and the needy. He was ... a teacher of the Christian life and of the relationship between faith and knowledge, convinced that Christians must bring essential values and commitment to building a world that is more just and mutually supportive. His life ended with the crown of martyrdom." ^[4]