In office 1635-1663 Name Miguel Balaguer Appointed February 12, 1635 Nationality Spanish Consecration February 18, 1635 | Rank Bishop Predecessor Baldassare Cagliares Successor Lucas Buenos Died Malta Term ended December 5, 1663 | |
Miguel Juan Balaguer Camarasa also known as Miguel Balaguer (1597 – 5 December 1663) was a Spanish Roman Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Malta from 1635-1663.
Biography
Miguel Juan Balaguer Camarasa was born in Spain. Upon the death of Bishop Baldassare Cagliares, Grandmaster Antoine de Paule and the council recommended that Balaguer be appointed bishop of Malta. Pope Urban VIII accepted Balaguer's nomination and formally appointed him to the see of Malta on February 12, 1635. He was ordained bishop on February 18, 1635 and installed as Bishop of Malta on March 25, 1635.
During his episcopacy Balaguer donated a wooden crucifix by Innocenzo da Petralia Soprano (1592-1648), a Franciscan friar from Sicily which today is found in the Chapel of the Holy Crucifix in St. Paul's Cathedral, Mdina. Also Bishop Balaguer consecrated the oldest bell in Malta dating from Medieval times. The bell, christened Petronilla was, reconsecrated on August 7, 1645 and installed in its place in the cathedral's belfry.
His episcopacy is characterised with accusations and conflict with lay persons, the Inquisitors and the knights. There were numerous occasions where Bishop Balaguer was about to resign though at the same time he was needed to reform the much slacking diocese. He had a rather long episcopacy of 28 years. He died as a result of a stroke on December 5, 1663 at the age of 66.