Julio Xavier Labayen

{{Short description|Filipino Catholic prelate (1926–2016)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2025}} {{Philippine name|Lizares|Labayen}} {{Infobox Christian leader | type = Bishop | honorific_prefix = The Most Reverend | name = Julio Xavier Labayen | honorific_suffix = OCD | title = Prelate Emeritus of Infanta | church = Catholic | see = Prelature of Infanta | appointed = July 26, 1966 | term_start = September 12, 1966 | retired = June 28, 2003 | predecessor = Patrick Harmon Shanley | successor = Rolando Tria Tirona | other_post = | ordination = June 4, 1955 | ordained_by = Adeodato Giovanni Piazza | consecration = September 8, 1966 | consecrated_by = Rufino Jiao Santos | birth_name = Julio Xavier Lizares Labayen Jr. | birth_date = {{Birth-date|July 23, 1926}} | birth_place = Talisay, Negros Occidental, Philippine Islands | death_date = {{death-date and age|April 27, 2016|July 23, 1926}} | death_place = Manila, Philippines | buried = Alagad Ni Maria Seminary, Antipolo, Rizal | previous_post = {{indented plainlist| *Titular Bishop of Sinnuara (1966–1978) }} | motto = {{langnf|la|Dominus est|It is the Lord|break=yes|paren=left}} – {{nowrap|{{Bibleverse|John|21:7}}}}) | coat_of_arms = Coat of Arms of Bishop Julio Xavier Labayen, OCD.png | image = | caption = Julio Labayen as a young bishop | module = {{Ordination | embed = yes | expand = | denomination = Catholic | ordained priest by = Adeodato Giovanni Piazza {{post-nominals|list=OCD}} | date of priestly ordination = June 4, 1955 | place of priestly ordination = Rome, Italy | consecrated by = Rufino Santos | co-consecrators = {{Ubl|Alfredo Obviar|Pedro Bantigue}} | date of consecration = September 8, 1966 | place of consecration = Mount Carmel Shrine, Quezon City }} }} [[File:Infanta,Quezonjf0268 11.JPG|thumb|Bishop Labayen, OCD is portrayed in this mural entitled "Hope in Struggle" dressed simply in ''camisa de chino.'' He points towards the light and the rainbow, the "dream of the Father" leading the Church of the Poor.]] The Most Reverend '''Julio Xavier Lizares Labayen Jr., OCD''' (July 23, 1926 – April 27, 2016) was a Filipino Catholic prelate. Known for his staunch defense of human rights, especially during martial law in the Philippines, he served as prelate of the Prelature of Infanta, Philippines from 1966 until 2003.<ref>[http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/infa0.htm Territorial Prelature of Infanta]</ref> He was among the first Filipino Discalced Carmelites in the 1950s.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Origins of Carmel|url=https://ocdphilippines.org/aboutus/the-origins-of-carmel/|access-date=2021-04-16|website=Order of Discalced Carmelites - Philippines|language=en-US}}</ref> He was the first Filipino Discalced Carmelite bishop and the second bishop/prelate of Infanta.

==Early life and education== Julio Lizares Labayen was born on July 23, 1926 at Talisay, Negros Occidental. He was one of eight children of Julio Diaz Labayen and Mercedes Alunan Lizares. After finishing his primary and secondary education in Bacolod, he decided to enter the priesthood. While his parents consented, they still urged him to go to college first and "prove that he could do the things priests had to do." As a response to his parents' challenge, he joined the Eucharistic Crusade and taught catechism to their neighborhood.<ref name="ocdwashingtonprovince">{{cite web |title=Most Rev. Julio Xavier Labayen of the Immaculate Heart of Mary |url=https://www.discalcedcarmel.org/departed-brethren/julio-labayen}}</ref>

During World War II, he organized a basketball league with then-Seminarian Antonio Fortich as coach; this made him a basketball superstar in their province.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Labayen |first1=Antonio |title=A History of Vocations to the Prelature of Infanta |url=https://www.illouminate.us/en/vocation-history-infanta/ |website=Illouminate.us}}</ref>

After the war, he enrolled at the University of San Agustin in Iloilo City and majored in Arts. As a student, he became the captain of the university's basketball team, and a writer for the school paper.<ref name="ocdwashingtonprovince" /> Around 1946, Labayen met then-Fr. Patrick Shanley, OCD, who was then serving as a military chaplain in the Philippines. This meeting made him interested in the Carmelites.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Labayen |first1=Antonio |title=A History of Vocations to the Prelature of Infanta |url=https://www.illouminate.us/en/vocation-history-infanta/ |website=Illouminate.us}}</ref> A year after this meeting, he graduated with a Pre-Medicine degree.<ref name="ocdwashingtonprovince" />

thumb|Holy Hill in Wisconsin, where Labayen finished his philosophy degree

After graduation, he decided to enter the Carmelites and made arrangements with Fr. Gabriel Gates, OCD for his admission. Labayen then studied Latin for a year at the Jesuit-run San Jose Seminary, and on September 22, 1948, he left the Philippines to join the Discalced Carmelites of the Washington Province of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. With him were other Filipino Carmelite aspirants, Vicente (later Fr. Bernard, OCD) Ybiernas and Pablo (later Fr. Anselm, OCD) Canonero. They formally entered the Order of Discalced Carmelites on October 15, 1948, the Feast of Santa Teresa de Jesús, at the Discalced Carmelites Novitiate in Brookline, Massachusetts. Consequently, he received the Carmelite habit on November 06, 1948 and took the religious name Xavier of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and professed his simple vows on November 6, 1949.<ref name="ocdwashingtonprovince" />

As part of his seminary formation, Labayen took the courses needed towards priesthood. He studied philosophy (1949-1952) at Holy Hill, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, graduating magna cum laude. From the United States, he took his theology courses and earned a master's degree in Theology (1952-1957) from the Teresianum in Rome, finishing cum laude. Labayen's solemn profession of vows took place on May 14, 1953, also at the Teresianum. He was also made to study canon law after his priesthood at Angelicum. He finished his master's degree in canon law, summa cum laude in 1959.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Inlayo|first=Maria Dulce Emmanuel F.|title=It is the Lord : the life-journey of Bishop Julio Xavier Labayen, OCD|publisher=Claretian Pub., 2013|others=Teresa R. Tunay|date=2013 |isbn=978-971-9952-65-7|location=Quezon City|oclc=989477551}}</ref>

==Ministry== Labayen was ordained on June 4, 1955, in the Teresianum by Cardinal Adeodato Giovanni Piazza. It was not until four years later that he was able to celebrate his first Solemn High Mass in Bacolod on November 14, 1949. As a priest, he was assigned as assistant parish priest of St. Joseph Parish in Polillo in 1959, then its parish priest the next year. He became apostolic administrator of the Prelature of Infanta on June 23, 1961.<ref name=":0" />

On July 26, 1966, he was appointed by Pope Paul VI as territorial prelate of Infanta and titular bishop of Sinnuara.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Paul VI |date=October 1966 |title=Apostolic Letter – Appointment of Julio Xavier Labayen as Prelate of Infanta |url=https://digilib.ust.edu.ph/digital/collection/boleccledef/id/37959/rec/6 |journal=Boletin Eclesiastico de Filipinas |volume=40 |issue=453 |pages=643–644 |quote=PAULUS EPISCOPUS SERVUS SERVORUM DEI dilecto filio XAVERIO JULIO LABAYEN, Administratori Apostolico Praelaturae Infantensis, Episcopo titulo Sinnauritano renuntiato, salutem et apostolicam benedictionem. Praelaturam Infantensem, non sane ultimam in Insulis Philippinis Ecclesiam christianae fidei gloria et ornamento, etsi recentiore tantum aetate conditam, quinquennio ante curis tuis commiserunt, quasi thesaurum magni pretii, ut labore, industria, providentia tua et ab hostium periculis prohiberes, et sanctissimam religionem Christi in ea intenderes et propagares, et gratiae sacramento ad sancta pro fide certamina instrueres; quae omnia cum diligenter ac studiose sis consecutus, visum est esse sive cum tuo honore coniunctum, sive cum istius Eclesiae fortuna, si dignitati tuae episcopale decus adderetur. Placet ergo Te, consilio ante petito a dilecto filio Nostro S. R. E. Cardinali Sacrae Congregationis Consistorialis Propraefecto, Episcopum titulo SINNUARITANUM renuntiari, quae sedes est in Provincia Proconsulari, quaeque iam certo modo vacabat, factis seilicet iuribus et oneribus iustis. Poteriy autem, si commodum erit, etiam extra urbem Romam Episcopus consecrari a quolibet catholico Episcopo, assistentibus duobus aequalis dignitatis viris, qui omnes sint cum hac Petri Cathedra fidei vinculis coniuncti. Non ante tamen id fiat quam sive fidei professionem fecisti, sive utrumque ius iurandum dedisti: fidelitatis erga Nos, et contra modernistarum errores, teste item aliquo Praesule qui Nobiscum sit sincera fide coniunctus. His actis, formulas iuxta quas iuraveris, tuo nomine subscripto et sigillo impresso, eum Tui tum etiam eius qui affuit iuranti Episcopi, ad Sacram Congregationem Consistorialem cito mittes. Ceterum, dilecte fili, aucta dignitate, iam maiora etiam virtutum specimina da. Nullum autem Te ad id plus movebit argumentum, quam si Christum, Cruci affixum pro hominum salute, assidue consideres omnique acie ingenii contempleris. Datum ex Arce Candulfi, prope Romam, die sexta et vicesima mensis lulii, anno Domini millesimo nongentesimo sexagesimo sexto, Pontificatus Nostri quarto. — F. T. — Jacobus Alosius Card Copello S.R.E. Cancellarius Franciscus Tinelle, Regens Joannes Calleri, Proton. Apost. Sylvius Romani, Proton. Apost. Expedita die XXII Aug. anno Pontif. IV Marius Orsini, Plumbator In cane. Ap. tab. Vol. CXXI N. 37}}</ref> He was consecrated bishop on September 8, 1966, at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in New Manila, Quezon City. Manila Archbishop Rufino Cardinal Santos served was the principal consecrator, with Lucena Apostolic Administrator Bishop Alfredo Obviar and Manila Auxiliary Bishop Pedro Bantigue as co-consecrators.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Cheney|first=David M.|title=Bishop Julio Xavier Labayen [Catholic-Hierarchy]|url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/blaba.html|access-date=2018-06-14|website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org}}</ref> He was formally installed at the St. Mark's Cathedral in Infanta, Quezon by the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Carlo Martini.<ref name="ocdwashingtonprovince" />

thumb|The Cathedral of the Prelature of Infanta

In the wake of the Second Vatican Council, Labayen was an ardent proponent of the Church of the Poor in the Philippines,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.veritas846.ph/pagiging-church-poor-ng-simbahan-legacy-ni-bishop-labayen/|title=Pagiging church of the poor ng Simbahan, legacy ni Bishop Labayen - Veritas 846|website=www.veritas846.ph|date=29 April 2016 |language=en-US|access-date=2018-06-15}}</ref> which was his brainchild in the Prelature of Infanta. The program prioritized to serve those neglected by the society: workers, indigenous people and others who relied on no one but themselves. As a shepherd, he immersed himself with the people and established dialogue in the grassroots, a concept the laity never imagined to happen. As such he became close to the heart of the people who loved him as a father.<ref>{{Cite web|title=bishop labayen 75 reflects on journey with people recalls crisis of faith|url=https://www.ucanews.com/story-archive/?post_name=/2001/08/09/bishop-labayen-75-reflects-on-journey-with-people-recalls-crisis-of-faith&post_id=18961#|access-date=2021-04-16|website=ucanews.com|language=en}}</ref> He was a staunch defender of human rights, especially during the years of martial law in the Philippines, being known as one of the "Magnificent 7" who voiced their opposition to the Marcos regime.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cbcpnews.com/cbcpnews/?p=76527|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160503065117/http://www.cbcpnews.com/cbcpnews/?p=76527|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 May 2016|title=Church mourns death of Bishop Labayen, 'a strong voice of the poor'|website=CBCP News|access-date=2018-06-14}}</ref>

Labayen also served in various capacities in promotion of the welfare and rights of the poor and the marginalized, primarily in his appointment as the first chair of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)'s National Secretariat for Social Action-Justice and Peace (NASSA).<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/782035/labayen-bishop-of-church-of-the-poor-89|title=Labayen, bishop of Church of the Poor; 89|last=Mallari|first=Delfin T. Jr.|access-date=2018-06-14|language=en}}</ref>

He also formed congregations to serve the church in their own ways. He was among the founders of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines, the Apostles in Contemporary Times (1984), the Religious Community of the Alagad ni Maria (1990), the Franciscans of the Our Lady of the Poor (1990), and the Augustinian Missionaries of the Philippines (1999). He was also instrumental in the establishment of various non-government organizations, such as the Socio-Pastoral Institute, the Bishops-Businessmen's Conference, Tipan, the Integrated Alternative Medical Health Service (INAM), the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TDFP), the Management Organizing for Development and Empowerment (MODE), and the New Rural Bank of San Leonardo. He was also instrumental in the formation of the Community Organizing for People Empowerment (COPE), the Philippine Association of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA), the Kilusang Makabayang Ekonomiya (KME), and the Development for Women Network (DAWN). In 1979, he formed the Karmelo – Laan sa Pangarap ng Ama (Sambayanan ng mga Dukha), an inculturated monastery of Discalced Carmelite nuns conceptualized in the spirit of the "Church of the Poor".

Labayen served the Prelature of Infanta until Pope John Paul II approved his retirement on June 28, 2003, with the announcement of the appointment of his Carmelite confrere, Malolos Bishop Rolando Tria Tirona.<ref>{{Cite web|title=RINUNCE E NOMINE|url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2003/06/28/0335/01047.html|access-date=2021-04-16|website=press.vatican.va}}</ref> Labayen was the longest-serving Prelate of Infanta for 36 years.

==Death, burial, and commemoration== [[File:BantayogWall20181115Alternativity-2016.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Detail of the Wall of Remembrance at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani, showing names from the 2016 batch of Bantayog Honorees, including that of Bishop Labayen]]

Labayen died on April 27, 2016, at 6:52 AM, in Manila.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Church mourns death of Bishop Labayen |work=SunStar |url=https://businessmirror.com.ph/2016/04/30/church-mourns-death-of-bishop-labayen/ |date=2016-04-30 |access-date=2025-07-03}}</ref> People poured from different walks of life during his wake in different locations: first in Quezon City, then to Baler, Aurora, and after to Infanta, Quezon.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/cbcpnews/photos/a.196266483759571.62526.112884358764451/1165552890164254/|title=CBCP News|website=www.facebook.com|language=en|access-date=2018-06-15}}</ref> His remains were returned to his retirement place in Antipolo City where he was buried in a crypt under the congregation's chapel on May 3, 2016.

In recognition of his efforts against authoritarian rule, his name was inscribed on the Wall of Remembrance at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani in 2016.<ref name="BantayogProfile">{{Cite web |url=http://www.bantayog.org/labayen-julio-xavier/ |title=Heroes and Martyrs: LABAYEN, Julio Xavier L. |date=2016-11-29 |website=Bantayog ng mga Bayani |language=en-US |access-date=2019-07-23}}</ref>

== Coat-of-arms == The heraldry of Bishop Labayen was designed by Galo B. Ocampo.

The dexter side (left of the viewer) represents the Prelature of Infanta, according to the practice of combining the arms of the bishop with his territorial jurisdiction. On the chief of the dexter (upper left) are symbols of the titular patrons of the prelature: the orb (Infant Jesus of Prague) and the lion (Mark the Evangelist). On the base of the dexter (bottom left) is an azure background and fleur-de-lis representing the Blessed Virgin Mary and the three flowers symbolizing the Trinity.

The sinister side (right of the viewer) bears the personal blazon of the bishop. The chief of the sinister (upper right) is the arms of the Order of Discalced Carmelites to which the bishop belonged. On the base of the sinister (bottom right) is a sable and argent checkered which was the arms of the Labayen family.

His episcopal motto is ''"Dominus est"'' from John 21:7, in which the beloved disciple shouts "It is the Lord". This reflects a recognition of God in all circumstances of life.

== Authored works == These are the books written by Labayen among many talks, articles and seminars:

* ''Revolution and the Church of the Poor'' (revised by himself in 1995) * ''To be the Church of the Poor'' (1986) * ''The Bishop, Builder-Servant of the Church of the Poor'' (1991) * ''Crisis and Impasse: the Dark Night in St. John of the Cross'' (1991) * ''Incarnational Spirituality'' (2004)

== Awards ==

* Gawad Kagitingan Award (Valour Award) during the 106th anniversary of Philippine Independence at the Monument of Heroes in Quezon City, 2014 * Father Neri Satur Award for Environmental Heroism for Climate Change Mitigation, 2009, for the Adopt-a-Mountain in Infanta, Quezon program * Human Rights Defenders Award, 2015, given by the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines * Bishop Labayen Self-Integrity Scholarship for 10 four-year scholarships, given by the Metro Infanta Foundation, June 2002<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.bantayog.org/labayen-julio-xavier/|title=LABAYEN, Julio Xavier L. – Bantayog ng mga Bayani|date=2016-11-29|work=Bantayog ng mga Bayani|access-date=2018-06-15|language=en-US}}</ref>

===Footnotes=== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{wikiquote}} {{commonscat}}

*{{s-start}} {{s-rel|ca}} {{s-bef | before = Patrick Harmon Shanley, OCD }} {{s-ttl | title = Prelate of Infanta | years = September 12, 1966 – June 28, 2003 }} {{s-aft | after = Rolando Tria Tirona, OCD }} {{s-break}} {{s-bef | before = None }} {{s-tul | title = Bishop of Sinnuara | years = September 8, 1966 – February 18, 1978 }} {{s-aft | after = Peter Kurongku }} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Labayen, Julio Xavier}} Category:1926 births Category:2016 deaths Category:21st-century Roman Catholic bishops in the Philippines Category:20th-century Roman Catholic bishops in the Philippines Category:Religious workers honored at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani Category:Mindanawons honored at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani Category:Individuals honored at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani