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.