Venerable Mario Hiriart Pulido was born in Santiago, Chile, in 1931. Born with fibroids on his neck and torso, he had to undergo multiple surgeries throughout his life. He was educated at Catholic schools and, after graduating with the highest honors, entered the Faculty of Engineering at the Catholic University of Chile.
 
In his early adult life, he learned about the Schoenstatt Apostolic Movement and became its champion in Latin America. The Schoenstatt movement was founded by Father Joseph Kentenich as an effort to involve lay people in apostolic work and unite various factions of the Catholic church under the mantel of Mary. It is named after the place it was originally founded in Germany, a name meaning “Beautiful Place.” The movement invited men to dedicate their lives to the guidance of Mary, mother of God, and to live out their years in service to the church and their communities.
 
After receiving his engineering degree and teaching for a time, Mario spent 3 years in formation with the Schoenstatt movement in Brazil. During that time, he led a silent and prayerful life, thoroughly working through the Schoenstatt spirituality and committing himself to the Secular Institute of the Schoenstatt Brothers of Mary in Brazil. Following his personal consecration to Mary in the shrine of the Bellavista in Chile, he worked as a lecturer and teacher in the Department of Engineering at the University of Santiago. As a civil engineer and devout Catholic, he wanted to help shape the world, stating in a letter that, “I want to be a personified encounter between heaven and earth!”
 
Mario went on to co-find the Schoenstatt Youth in Chile. In a letter to Fr. Kentenich he stated his dedication to his personal life-mission — The complete surrender and dedication of his life in the virginal discipleship of Christ, like Mary, is the way to radically fulfill his mission as a layman to shape the world and for the community of the Schoenstatt Brothers of Mary in Latin America.
 
In his early 30’s, Mario was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. Upon hearing this sad news, Mario stated, “Interesting, interesting … Since my youth, I have had the desire to die at the same age as Christ was when he died.” He passed away while in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for chemotherapy treatment on July 15, 1964, at age 33, the same age Jesus was when he was crucified.
 
Of Mario, Fr. Kentench said that there is something great about a person who lives his total devotion so consciously, so gladly, so completely like Mario. Following Mario’s death, Fr. Kentench would frequently bring visitors to the cemetery asking them, “Do you want to see the grave of a saint?” Pope Francis conferred on him the title of Venerable in 2020.