I <scp>n</scp> M <scp>emoriam</scp> : <i>Fr. Francisco Morales Valerio</i>

was one of the leading scholars of early colonial Mexico and of the Franciscan order.Morales was born on 09/26/1937, in Pozos, Guanajuato.His family moved to Mexico City when he was still very young, and thereafter, he considered himself a chilango (a native of the Federal District, specifically the Tepito neighborhood).His was a large family, with at least a dozen brothers and sisters.From an early age, he was attracted to the Franciscan order, whose friars were always supportive and helpful for him, a small boy in a large city.His Franciscan identity was manifest very early.He took the Franciscan habit when he was only 16 years old, made his first profession in the order the next year, and made his solemn profession in the order when he was 21 years old.His ordination as a priest occurred when he was 26 years old.