Prayers for work echo within these walls. The Ermita de San Cayetano stands here. It is a beacon of hope for those seeking employment and sustenance. This Romanesque church has a fascinating story. It intertwines faith, perseverance, and the struggles of a nation.
In the late 19th century, the Sisters of the Divine Savior arrived in Liniers. They came from the Santa Casa de Ejercicios Espirituales. Saint María Antonia de la Paz y Figueroa founded this in Córdoba. She walked to the capital. María Mercedes Cordova donated the land to the religious sisters in 1830. The sisters then began their religious work here in Liniers.
They built a small chapel. It was dedicated to San Cayetano. It served as a spiritual haven for the faithful. They also built a convent and a school for girls. This is now the Colegio de San Cayetano. The church officially opened on September 30, 1875.
San Cayetano became a parish in 1913. The current school was built a year later. Cardinal Juan Carlos Aramburu declared it a sanctuary. This cemented its importance in the community.
But who was San Cayetano? Cayetano de Thiene was born in Vicenza Italy in 1480. He was a presbyter. He studied law and then pursued his religious calling in Rome. He served as a private secretary to Pope Julius II. In 1516 he became a priest.
Cayetano founded the Oratory of Divine Love. He also founded the Order of Clerics Regular Theatines. He promoted prayer and communion. He advocated for austerity. He urged others to renounce their possessions. He helped the poor and the sick.
He died in 1547. Even in his final illness, he refused a mattress. He chose to lie on wooden boards. His dedication led to his beatification in 1629. He was canonized in 1671.
The Ermita de San Cayetano draws countless Catholic faithful. Every seventh day of the month they come. They ask for bread and work. The crowds swell on August 7. This marks his feast day. Pilgrims queue for hundreds of meters. They wait to enter the sanctuary.
In the 1930s, during the Great Depression, something remarkable happened. Father Domingo Falgioni promoted San Cayetano. He was the spiritual director of the Catholic Workers’ Circles. He presented him as a facilitator of employment and food.
Father Falgioni created an image. It showed San Cayetano with the child Jesus. He also held an ear of wheat. This solidified his role as the patron saint of bread and work. In times of financial hardship, faith in San Cayetano grew.
Today the Ermita de San Cayetano stands. It represents hope and perseverance. It reminds us that even in the darkest times, faith can provide solace. The story of San Cayetano is interwoven with the lives of those who seek his help.