Saint Emmanuel the Good, Martyr

Miguel de Unamuno’s Saint Manuel Bueno, Martyr is an existentialist novella originally written in 1931. As a renowned Spanish philosopher, educator, author, and intellectual, Unamuno infused the narrative with his deep philosophical reflections and personal struggles. His career included a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Madrid, as well as roles as a professor of Greek literature and a university rector.

The novel showcases Unamuno’s exploration of the tensions between intellect and emotion, as well as faith and reason, marking his early contributions to existential philosophy. The “nivola,” a term Unamuno devised for his work, highlights the spiritual and ideological struggles of the characters, making plot and traditional narrative techniques less important. This method gives the story a dreamlike, symbolic depth, centering on the characters’ existential and spiritual dilemmas instead of concrete events. The thematic core of the novel revolves around The Tragedy of Consciousness, The Utility and Morality of Deception, and Saintliness, Legacy, and Mortality.

This guide refers to the 2009 Oxbow Books edition, translated by Paul Burns and Salvador Ortiz-Carboneres. The original Spanish title of the book is San Manuel Bueno, mártir, and another common translation is Saint Emmanuel the Good, Martyr.

Content Warning: The text addresses themes of death by suicide and suicidal ideation alongside employing outdated and offensive terminology regarding people with disabilities.

Plot Summary

Saint Manuel Bueno, Martyr unfolds in the village of Valverde de Lucerna, where Angela Carballino recounts the life and doubts of Don Manuel, a village priest beloved by all for his compassion and spiritual guidance. Miguel de Unamuno’s Prologue and Epilogue frame the story, positioning himself as a philosophical guide and providing personal context to the narrative.

As the novella proper begins, the beatification process for Don Manuel has been started by the bishop of Renada. Angela, whose biological father passed away when she was young and left behind a collection of significant books that shaped her imagination, regards Don Manuel as her spiritual father. She describes her early years, including her education, which was funded by her brother, Lázaro, who lived in America at the time. Her narrative provides a detailed account of Don Manuel, who joined the seminary out of a desire to care for his widowed sister’s children. His approach to his pastoral duties was characterized by an inclusive and forgiving attitude. He actively engaged in resolving familial disputes, assisting those in despair, and showing unparalleled compassion toward all, especially the marginalized, such as Blasillo, a local boy with cognitive disabilities. During one Good Friday liturgy, Don Manuel yelled that God had forsaken him, which profoundly affected the congregation, evoking a sensation of hearing Christ himself. Blasillo repeated the words, stirring a mix of sorrow and joy among the people.

Angela returned to the village from school at age 15 and grew close to Don Manuel, observing his avoidance of solitude and noticing his private suffering. When Lázaro, Angela’s brother, returned from America, he was skeptical of Don Manuel’s influence and the village’s traditional ways. Despite his initial resistance, Lázaro’s curiosity about Don Manuel grew, leading to a significant change in perspective. He attended Mass to understand Don Manuel better, leading to speculation about his conversion. During communion, Don Manuel, visibly emotional, dropped the Sacred Host, which Lázaro retrieved and consumed, symbolizing his integration into the community’s faith.

Afterward, Lázaro revealed to Angela Don Manuel’s secret struggle with faith. He further explained that Don Manuel had advised Lázaro to feign belief for the community’s sake, highlighting his own practice of hiding his doubts to maintain peace and happiness among the parishioners. Lázaro described Don Manuel as a true saint and accepted his intentions, viewing his actions not as deceit for personal gain but as a means to support the community’s spiritual life.

Angela grappled with the revelation of Don Manuel’s internal conflict and his dedication to the spiritual welfare of his parishioners. Nevertheless, she resisted his advice that she marry, preferring to devote her life to Don Manuel. Lázaro, too, became increasingly involved in Don Manuel’s work, assisting with visits to the sick and contributing financially. As Don Manuel’s health and spirit declined, he privately reflected on his personal and philosophical struggles with faith and existence. He asked Angela and Lázaro to continue caring for the village, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the community’s faith and contentment. He requested a simple burial in a casket made from the boards of an old walnut tree he cut.

As Don Manuel’s death approached, he was carried to the church to bid farewell to his parishioners. After blessing the congregation, he died, as did Blasillo. The villagers venerated Don Manuel’s grave, seeking solace in the legacy he left behind.

Lázaro, transformed by Manuel’s teachings, vowed to continue Don Manuel’s work but ultimately succumbed to an illness. Before his death, he emphasized that the essence of Don Manuel would continue to live within the community and specifically with Angela.

In the present, Angela contemplates the teachings of Don Manuel, which emphasized serving the community, finding solace in nature, and the collective soul of the village. Despite the deaths of Don Manuel and Lázaro, Angela feels their presence and teachings continue to influence her life, guiding her to live not within herself but through the life of her people.

The narrative ends with an epilogue by Miguel de Unamuno, who introduces himself as the narrator discovering Angela’s memoir. Unamuno muses on the nature of reality, creation, and belief, comparing the characters’ existence to those in his other works, and asserting the realness of Angela’s testimony and the indubitable reality of Saint Manuel Bueno. He reflects on the essence of faith, suggesting that actions speak louder than words, and concludes by contemplating the enduring nature of stories, likening them to the perpetual existence of lakes and mountains beyond the confines of faith and despair.