Pedro Poveda in Madrid

Already in 1902 Pedro Poveda had visited Madrid when he was seeking support for his projects in Guadix. Later on the streets of Madrid also were the silent witnesses of his pastoral work as a priest and his efforts at expanding the Teresian Association. He also walked the streets of Madrid when he was detained and taken to his death as a martyr, in 1936.

Alameda Street, where he was detained, his confessionary at Sacramento street and the chapel at the Cathedral of Almudena are places that remind us of his presence as much a the few buildings where Poveda lived and where he wrote the statutes for the Teresian Association.

A great part of the Madrid of the XIX century he knew has not been changed. The same narrow streets are still there. When he arrived he was a man with a dream come true. He knows what he wants. He sees that the needs of university students are becoming clear. He sees them, especially women, interested in culture, in going to lectures. It is possible that his idea of the advancement of women gains clarity while he is in Madrid. And while he is there he is involved in a variety of activities. Madrid offers the young priest a reach experience.

1902-1904
Urged by the needs

In Guadix, after being ordained to the priesthood Pedro Poveda sees it is necessary to go to the capital to present the needs of the people who live in the marginated cave district. He needs to raise funds for the foundation of the Schools of the Sacred Heart.

         June 11 1902: At dawn in Atocha rail Station
Pedro Poveda is 27 years old when for the first time he sets foot at Atocha Station. He stays with his uncle Jose Lopez Montes at Prado Street 28. He has many people on his list of visits.

         May 1903-June 1904
He returns to Madrid with the same objective and  has an audience with King Alfonso XIII and his daughters at the royal Palace

1905
Madrid: a witness of his confusion

         11 of February 1905:
At dawn he has left Guadix forever. From there travels to Granada and at night takes a train to Madrid. The same station of Atocha receives a broken man. For three long months stays with his uncle at Prado Street, 28. “Each day is a sad date,” he writes in his diary. Then he returns to Granada on the 14th of May “embittered and without much hope”.

         23 of July 1905:
Again returns to Madrid, from Granada. Now he stays at a motel in Puerta del Sol.
“I stay in Madrid but cannot celebrate Mass until I receive license from Madrid,” he writes in his diary.

1906-1913
Madrid at the crossroads

         October 1906
He passes by Madrid on his way to Covadonga. He has been name a canon at the Basilica Church there.

1913-1921:
While in Jaen:  something in Madrid

         From 1913:
In Jaen he is a canon at the Cathedral. He writes: “Only my tenacity made me think of having something in Madrid, in spite of all my disappointments there”.

He is referring to the first Residence for women studying to become teachers. It opens its doors on March 25th, 1914, in Goya Street 46, 1. This residence later on moved to Cuesta de Santo Domingo 20, Sagasta 8, Serrano 18. and, in 1923, it moves to Alameda Street where it remained until 1936.

After 1914 the visits of Pedro Poveda to Madrid are more frequent. He often stays at Hotel Imperial in Montera Street, 2. It is in this hotel that he forms, on the 29th of June of 1916, the first governing body –Directorio—of the just born Teresian Association.

1921-1936
Permanent residence in Madrid

         In 1921
The movement of the ‘Academias Teresianas’ had grown and it was present in 12 cities. The name of Pedro Poveda, his personality and his projects were now known by the Royal Household.

         January 18, 1921
By royal Decree, Pedro Poveda is named Chaplain o the royal Chapel. On he 21st of March he takes possession of his post and begins regularly celebrating a Mass at the Palace. This is so from 1921 to 1931.

Provisionally he lives at the Gayarre Motel at Plaza de Oriente 6, In July of the same year he moves to Sacramento Street where he will live with his family. Here he celebrates his silver jubilee as a priest. Here he writes the statutes of the Teresian Association…

         From 1922:
He is art of the Central Commission against Illiteracy

         In 1923:
Poveda changes his residence to 7 Alameda Street, owned by the Teresian Association since 1920. It is a University Residence for women and the place of reference of the Teresian Association. He has an apartment with separate entrance.
His educational vision and organizational skills re well known and he received numerous civic and church assignments:

         In 1929:
The Cardinal ask him to organize the Catholic Women Student Association, located first in Carrera de San Jeronimo 32, and in 1930 it moves to Amor de Dios street, 4. It then changes its name to Liga de Orientación y Cultura and in 1933 moves to Carmen Street, 36-38. In 1935 it moves gain to Calle Mayor 70.

         In 1930
He is admitted at the Fraternity of the ‘Refugio’ at Corredera Baja de S. Pablo 16, an organization that visit the sick and helps the homeless.

         In 1936
On July 27, 1936, when he has just finished celebrating Mass, he is detained and will make his final walk through the streets of Madrid: Veronica Street, Luna Street, Piamonte, and again to a bar in Luna street where he refuses a drink.  On the morning of July 28th Maria Astudillo and Emma Alvarez find his body, close to the chapel of the Cemetery of the East—today called Almudena. He receives burial the following day t the Sacramental of San Lorenzo.

         In 1965
His holy remains are transferred to the crypt at Santa Maria de Los Negrales, in he Madrid Province.

         In 1993
Pope John Paul II beatified him in Rome as a martyr. His relics are placed under the altar of the Chapel at Santa Maria de Los Negrales

         In 2003
On the 4th of May is he canonized by John Paul II in Plaza de Colon, Madrid.

From: Pedro Poveda a citizen of Madrid, Gloria Bustos

Updates: 21/04/2007