Posted on 05/21/2007 8:56:56 AM PDT by Salvation
Saint Christopher Magallanes,
Priest & Companions, Martyrs
Optional Memorial
May 21st
from Vatican website
Saint Christopher Magallanes was joined in martyrdom by twenty-one diocesan priests and three devout laymen, all members of the Cristeros Movement, who rose up in rebellion against the anti-Catholic Mexican government during the 1920's. having erected a seminary at Totatiche, he secretly spread the Gospel and ministered to the people. When imprisoned by the government authorities, he was heard to shout from his cell; "I am innocent and I die innocent. I forgive with all my heart those responsible for my death, and I ask God that the shedding of my blood serve the peace of our divided Mexico".
Source: Daily Roman Missal, Edited by Rev. James Socías, Midwest Theological Forum, Chicago, Illinois ©2003
May 21, 2007
St. Cristóbal Magallanes and Companions
(d. 1915-1928)
Like Blessed Miguel Agustín Pro, S.J., Cristóbal and his 24 companion martyrs lived under a very anti-Catholic government in Mexico, one determined to weaken the Catholic faith of its people. Churches, schools and seminaries were closed; foreign clergy were expelled. Cristóbal established a clandestine seminary at Totatiche, Jalisco. Magallanes and the other priests were forced to minister secretly to Catholics during the presidency of Plutarco Calles (1924-28).
All of these martyrs except three were diocesan priests. David, Manuel and Salvador were laymen who died with their parish priest, Luis Batis. All of these martyrs belonged to the Cristero movement, pledging their allegiance to Christ and to the Church that he established to spread the Good News in societyeven if Mexico's leaders once made it a crime to receive Baptism or celebrate the Mass. These martyrs did not die as a single group but in eight Mexican states, with Jalisco and Zacatecas having the largest number. They were beatified in 1992 and canonized eight years later. Quote:
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Thanks for the posting. I saw them on the calendar this morning and assumed they were martyrs but didn’t know anything about the circumstances.
But in the 1920s and 1930s, there was tremendous oppression of the Catholic religion.
According to the Jesuit author of Mexican Martyrs, he claimed the freemasons were behind this.
There was even an attempt at this time to blow up the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. This failed, but the bomb had sufficient force to bow a four foot or five foot crucifix. It was not protected by bullet proof glass, but the powerful explosion did not even crack the glass -- which must have been a wonderous sign to the devout Mexicans...
They also tried to destroy the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe with fire. Everything around the tilma/icon burned, but not it. Maybe this was with the bomb blast. I have heard of both and really don’t know if it was the same incident.
This priest was also a friend of St. Miguel Pro.
Neither did I until I looked it up, did a search, found the information! LOL!
I saw the crucifix at the Basilica. It is amazing how such a large brass crucifix could be bent by the force of the explosion and yet nothing happen to the glass just inches away.
The bomb was placed in a wreath of flowers and put on the altar in front of the image. This might be documented in The Wonder of Guadalupe by Francis Johnson, but I am not sure...
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