Juan Alejo de Arizmendi - Patriot

Patriot

Political activists in modern times claim Arizmendi was also a patriot with liberal thoughts without providing historical conceptual verification. He was a stern supporter of Ramon Power y Giralt when this veteran of the Spanish navy and past frigate Captain was asked to represent Puerto Rico in front of the Spanish Courts in Cadiz. In reality intended as a reminder of the poor, but interpreted by some in modern times as a patriotic gesture, Arizmendi gave Ramon Power his episcopal ring, "as sure pledge that will sustain you in the memory of your resolution to protect and maintain the rights of our fellow countrymen, as I myself am resolved to die for my beloved flock". There is no evidence either man was disloyal to the monarchy. A modern day interpretation, which has no historical foundation that can be found in the footnote, is that for Arizmendi this was also a national symbol of Puerto Rico by joining his country and God in his heart Arizmendi's statement may have inspired the seizure in 1810 of all ecclesiastical stipends by the royal treasury, but most likely it was the end of the Situado from Mexico the same year.

In 1814, after traveling around the island in his second pastoral visit he fell ill in Hormigueros in whose Hermitage, now the Basilica Menor de la Virgen de Monserrate, he desired to be buried. Bishop Juan Alejo de Arizmendi died in the City of Arecibo, Puerto Rico on October 12, 1814. His remains are in the Cathedral of San Juan Bautista, in Puerto Rico.