Argentine businessman Enrique Shaw one step closer to beatification

Buenos Aires, Argentina, Jun 21, 2025 / 09:00 am (CNA).

The cause for canonization of Venerable Enrique Shaw, an Argentine husband, father, and businessman remembered for his vocation of service and his close ties to the working class, took another step forward at the Vatican this week.

In January, the miracle attributed to his intercession passed a medical review of its authenticity, and on June 17 the commission of theologians also unanimously approved it, the vice postulator of the cause, Bishop Santiago Olivera, confirmed to the AICA news agency.

“The cause of Enrique Shaw has already passed the initial stage of medical consultation, and now the theological experts, who are studying the prayers addressed to the ‘candidate’ and their fruits, have expressed their unanimous opinion this Tuesday regarding the prayer asking for the grace of healing,” the prelate explained, encouraging people to continue praying “with renewed faith and confidence.”

Olivera is in Rome where, prior to the theological commission’s verdict, he had a private audience with the Holy Father, with whom he was able to discuss Shaw’s cause for canonization. In an interview with the program “En Clave Grote,” the bishop for the military diocese of Argentina gave details about the meeting.

“I was able to talk about several of our causes, and I told [the Holy Father] about Enrique Shaw, which gave me great joy. I told him that the theological commission was meeting today … I told him: Later, God willing, it will go to the ordinary commission of cardinals and bishops, and then you, if you see fit, will have to sign, and we will have a new blessed, and [the pope] smiled,” the prelate recounted.

Who was Enrique Shaw?

Shaw was born on Feb. 26, 1921. His mother died when he was 4 years old and following her request, his father entrusted his son’s education to a priest.

Shaw completed his primary education at La Salle School in Buenos Aires and then entered the Naval Military School, where he discovered his apostolic vocation.

In 1943, he married Cecilia Bunge, and they had nine children. After retiring from the Navy in 1945, he decided to become a laborer, but a priest advised him and he leaned toward entrepreneurship, a vocation that would bear great fruit.

He was not only the general manager of Cristalerías (glassworks) Rigolleau, demonstrating exemplary concern and closeness to his employees, but he was also one of the founders and the first president of the Christian Association of Business Leaders, which continues to this day, bringing a human perspective to work.

Shaw served on the first board of directors of UCA (Catholic University of Argentina), worked to establish Argentine Catholic Action and the Christian Family Movement, and promoted the passage of the Family Allowance Law, a living wage based on family size or children’s disabilities.

While still very young, he fell ill with cancer, and when he needed blood transfusions, it was his own workers who offered to donate blood for him. He died on Aug. 27, 1962, at the age of 41.

In April 2021, Pope Francis authorized the promulgation of the decree recognizing the heroic virtues of the venerable businessman, faithful layman, and father of a large family.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.