Our friend Miquel Bach Porredon died in Peramola on January 22nd. He was born on April 22, 1953.

Miquel was the son of Paco Bach Puig (1920-1977) and grandson of Antoni Bach Pallarès, the "Tonillo" (1887-1967).

As we know, the "Tonillo" appears many times from 19 to 28 November 1937 accompanying Saint Josemaría Escrivá when, due to the religious persecution of the time, he stayed in the lands of Pallerols de Rialb and Peramola, on his way of escape to Andorra. The night of the 19th appears for the first time when he takes the group of fugitives from the Pont de Peramola to the Paller de Peramola. He later appeared several times in the Cabana de Sant Rafael and in the Ribalera.

His son, Paco Bach -who was 17 in 1937-, appeared on the morning of November 20, 1937, accompanying Saint Josemaría from the Peramola barn to Cal Vilaró, a house in the town of Pallerols. In the Diary of the 20th, José María Albareda writes:

"Por mediación de Paco Bach, que regresa a Peramola (el día 20), el Padre hace llegar una carta a los tres que la noche anterior no habían llegado porque se perdieron. Esta es la carta.

En los montes de Rialp, a 20 de nov. de 1937.

Os supongo hechos migas, después de la nochecita toledana que habréis llevado. Todo lo que vale cuesta: además, si queréis, ni un paso de los vuestros será infecundo.

En fin: dejémonos de filosofías, y aprovechad bien la paja —nada de comérsela, ¿eh?— y dormid sin hacer caso del tropel de ratas que os saldrán a saludar.

Estamos muy contentos: agradecidísimos a estos buenos amigos de aquí: y lamentando que no hayan venido nuestros buenos amigos de Madrid (José María, Alvaro y los demás).

Comed bien y no os olvidéis de D. Manuel.

Recuerdos de estos dos.

Os abraza.

Mariano.

Hasta mañana.

A Paco, el muchacho que os entregará esta nota, a ver si le hacéis un retrato, un dibujo, en el que esté bien majo."

This drawing was made by Miguel Fisac, as Francisco Botella recalls in a 1975 paper.

In an interview filmed in 1970, Paco explains that he took Sant Josemaría, from Peramola to Cal Vilaró, passing through the following places: "Font del Caner, Costa del Camp, Baró and Vilaró".

To learn more about the "Tonillo" family in relation to St. Josemaría, you can read pages 36 to 43, 196-197, and 230 to 232, from the book Camino de Liberación.

Finally, we express our gratitude to Miquel for the example of his life: hardworking, simple and discreet, kind, faithful friend, generous. Connoisseur of all the places in Peramola helped us to discover the paths and corners of these mountains that have enriched our knowledge of the lands of Pallerols and Peramola.

We hope to offer a Mass for him soon, in Pallerols, which we will see if it can be on Saturday, February 12, at 5:30 p.m.