Saint Ezekiel Moreno: The Saint Who Walks Cancer Patients

On August 19, the Church commemorates Saint Ezekiel Moreno (1848–1906), the patron saint of cancer patients and a shining example of missionary zeal, pastoral care, and unwavering faith.

A member of the Order of Augustinian Recollects (OAR), Saint Ezekiel was known for his simplicity, deep devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and tireless service in foreign lands. He served over 15 years in the Philippines, where he embarked on an enthusiastic ministry among the island peoples of Mindoro, Palawan, and Luzon, learning Tagalog to better serve the faithful. In Palawan, he is remembered for digging a well whose waters were said to have miraculously healed members of the community.

Born on April 9, 1848, in Alfaro, Logroño, Spain, Moreno came from a humble but faith-filled family. He joined the Augustinian Recollects in 1865 and was ordained a priest in Manila in 1871. His missionary years in the Philippines were marked by long journeys, pastoral dedication, and a willingness to work in the most remote and challenging areas.

In 1885, he returned to Spain and served as Rector of the College and Novitiate of Monteagudo. Three years later, in 1888, he was sent to Colombia to restore the Augustinian Recollect order there. The friars, inspired by his leadership, renewed their missionary zeal in the difficult plains of Casanare, reaping great spiritual fruit in a short time.  In 1896, he became Bishop of the Metropolitan See of Pasto. His episcopate coincided with the Colombian Civil War (1899–1902), during which he proved to be a steadfast defender of the Church and a courageous voice for his people.

Diagnosed in 1905 with the same kind of cancer he would later be invoked against, a malignant tumour in his palate, he faced his illness with serene acceptance and profound faith. After painful surgeries in Madrid, he chose to spend his final days in Monteagudo, near the Blessed Sacrament and the image of Our Lady of the Way. He died on August 19, 1906, reportedly saying, “I am going to see God.”

Two miracles are attributed to his intercession:

For Beatification (1947):

Carmela Jurado, a devout woman from Pasto, Colombia, where Saint Ezekiel Moreno had once served as bishop, was diagnosed with a malignant palatine-nasal cancer. This was the very same type of cancer that had caused the saint’s own death decades earlier.

Her illness progressed rapidly. After two months of hospital treatment, doctors sadly concluded that nothing more could be done. They advised her family to take her home to spend her remaining days in familiar surroundings. By early February 1947, Carmela was in the final stages of the disease, having already received the last sacraments in preparation for death.

In the weeks before, she and her family had prayed two novenas to Saint Ezekiel Moreno, pleading for his intercession. On the night of February 11, she slipped into a deep agony, and her loved ones gathered around, expecting the end at any moment. But the next morning, to everyone’s astonishment, Carmela awoke completely free of pain. Not only was the cancer gone, but there were no traces of damage in the affected areas of her body. Her cure was immediate, total, and permanent, a healing that medical science could not explain. The Church later recognized this as the miracle that paved the way for Saint Ezekiel’s beatification.

For Canonization (1986):

Nearly four decades later, another remarkable healing occurred. Maria de Jesús Náñez, a Colombian woman, had undergone surgery for cancer in her right leg. By the time of her operation, the disease had already spread to her left breast, making her condition extremely grave.

Maria, a woman of strong faith, placed her trust in Saint Ezekiel Moreno, whose reputation as an intercessor for those with cancer had grown over the years. On the night of July 18, 1986, after days of prayer, she experienced an overwhelming sense of peace and a sudden surge of strength. By morning, the swelling and pain were gone. Medical examinations confirmed what she already felt in her heart: the cancer had completely disappeared.

Saint Ezekiel’s spirituality is marked by six defining characteristics: a life of intense prayer and contemplation; care for the poor and marginalized; deep devotion to the Holy Eucharist; love for the Sacred Heart of Jesus; the “Jesus and I” spirituality of personal closeness to Christ; and strong Marian devotion. He was beatified by Pope Paul VI in 1975 and canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1992. His life remains an enduring inspiration for faith, courage in suffering, and commitment to mission, especially for those battling illness.