Enrique Ernesto Shaw was an ArgentineRoman Catholic businessman. He was born in France and later emigrated to Argentina where he served in the marines. He promoted and encouraged business growth in accordance with the social doctrine of the faith and he founded the Christian Association of Business Executives. He was also a prolific writer and published a range of books. His cause of sainthood commenced in 2001 and he has been accorded the title Servant of God to recognize the commencement of the process.
Life
Enrique Ernesto Shaw was born in 1921 in Paris as one of two children of Argentine parents, Alejandro Shaw and Sara Tornquist Altgelt; he was of both German and Scottish descent. The Shaws moved back to Argentina in 1923. Sara died in 1925. He served as a marine in Argentina and entered in 1936 despite the opposition of his father. He became a Junior Lieutenant. He started his business at the conclusion of World War II and established in 1952 the Christian Association of Business Executives with the assistance of Archbishop – later Cardinal – Joseph Cardijn. He became a prolific writer and he published a wide range of books. He was also among the founders of the Christian Family Movement and he also served as the president of the ArgentineCatholic Action. He also established a pension fund and a health care plan to provide medical services and financial support in circumstances such as illness and new births. In 1955 he became a victim of anti-Catholic persecution in the administration of Juan Peron. He was arrested and was seen as an altruistic prisoner as he provided fellow inmates with mattresses that relatives brought to him as well as food. In 1961 a firm he led was sold to an American trust fund that decided to fire over a thousand people. Shaw was opposed to this and proposed a plan to retain all workers. One of his initiatives was the application of Catholic social doctrine in the workplace and he also paid attention to the social teachings of Pope Pius XII in 1946. At that same time he served in an organization for humanitarian aid for post-war Europe. In 1943 he married Cecilia Bunge and the couple went on to have nine children; one became a priest. Two of his children were the priest John Shaw and Sara Shaw. According to his daughter he would not accept dinner invitations from friends because he wanted to spend that time with his children. Shaw also taught his children the importance of rosaries and how to use them. He also took them to church each week. In 1957 he fell ill with cancer. He took to writing during this time and also found time to speak at conferences. In mid 1962 he received a blood transfusion donated from his fellow workers. People at the hospital that Shaw was admitted to were perplexed as to the number of workers in line to donate blood. Shaw himself said before his death that he was pleased that the blood of his workers coursed through his veins. He – despite the risks – took a pilgrimage to Lourdes before his death. He died on 27 August 1962 in a hospital in Buenos Aires.
Beatification process
The beatification process commenced on 25 September 2001 under Pope John Paul II in a process in Buenos Aires that conferred upon him the title Servant of God; the process opened in Argentina under Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio – the future Pope Francis. The local process spanned from 25 August 2005 until 19 September 2013 and concluded in a Mass under Archbishop Mario Aurelio Poli. The process received formal ratification in 2015 in order for the cause to proceed to the next level. On 12 September 1996 the promotion of his beatification cause came when Archbishop – later Cardinal – Jorge María Mejía invited the faithful to spread Shaw's message.
