Papal Authorization for Beatification of Argentine Businessman and Devout Catholic
Pope Leo XIV has authorized the beatification of Enrique Ernesto Shaw, an Argentine businessman and father of nine children, known as the “apostle of entrepreneurs” for applying the Catholic Church’s Social Doctrine in the world of work. The Catholic Church will add 12 new beatified individuals following the Pope’s decree, recognizing the martyrdom of 11 Spanish religious figures killed during the Civil War and the heroic virtues of a lay Argentine man, Enrique Ernesto Shaw.
Key Details of the Beatification
- Shaw, who passed away in 1962, will be proclaimed a beatified saint following the recognition of a miracle attributed to his intercession: the inexplicable recovery of a five-year-old boy who suffered severe brain trauma in 2015 near Buenos Aires.
- The child recovered without neurological sequelae, a fact validated by medical and theological experts from the Vatican.
A Layman in the Altars
Unlike the Spanish martyrs (nine seminarians, one priest, and one layperson killed between 1936 and 1937 due to hatred of faith), Shaw’s beatification stands out as it involves a married layman, business owner, and father of nine, whose saintliness was expressed through daily life, work, and social commitment.
Born in Paris on February 26, 1921, to Argentine parents, Shaw grew up in Buenos Aires and demonstrated a deep Catholic faith from a young age. He joined the Argentine Navy, combining military training with intense apostolic work among sailors. Later, after a personal process he described as a “conversion,” Shaw decided to bring the Gospel into the business realm.
Faith, Business, and Social Commitment
Shaw resigned from the naval career and joined Cristalerías Rigolleau, eventually becoming its general manager. He then promoted a business model based on the dignity of work, social justice, and shared responsibility between executives and employees. In 1952, he founded the Association of Christian Business Leaders (ACDE) and championed the Christian business movement in Latin America linked to UNIAPAC.
His ideas were documented in writings, speeches, and personal diaries, where he argued that “being an employer is not a privilege but a function,” and that businesses should be human communities rather than mere production spaces.
Diagnosed with cancer in 1957, Shaw faced the illness without abandoning public activity or ecclesial commitment. He participated in founding Cáritas in Argentina, joined the Serra Club, served on the first board of the Catholic University of Argentina, and led the Hombres de Acción Católica. He passed away on August 27, 1962, at the age of 41, having offered his suffering for his family and friends.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Enrique Ernesto Shaw? An Argentine businessman and devout Catholic, known for applying the Church’s Social Doctrine in the world of work.
- Why is Shaw being beatified? For a recognized miracle attributed to his intercession and his life of faith, work, and social commitment.
- What was Shaw’s impact on the business world? He promoted a business model centered around dignity of work, social justice, and shared responsibility between executives and employees.
- What are the next steps in Shaw’s beatification process? The date for his beatification has not yet been announced.
