20TH CENTURY MEXICAN MARTYRS

In his letter of 1994, about the coming new Third Millennium and the new 21st century, John Paul stressed the importance of martyrs. "At the end of the Second Millennium, the Church has once again become a Church of martyrs. The persecution of believers - priests, religious and laity has caused a great sowing of seeds of martyrdom in different parts of the World. This witness must not be forgotten".

In 27 years he beatified and canonized numerous Servants of God. He paid special attention to the Saints, especially martyrs of the 20th century. One of the many great spiritual events of Jubilee 2000 was the Canonization of the Mexican Martyrs. Religious persecution in predominantly Catholic Mexico continued in an intense way for nearly thirty years. It began with the anti-clerical Constitution of President Carranza in 1917.

Priests could not conduct schools and religious acts were forbidden outside churches. Seminary studies were not recognized by the State; celibacy and religious vows were ridiculed; the Church could not own property, all institutions and buildings of the Church were confiscated by the State; priests lost all political rights, the State could limit the number of priests; the Catholic press was suppressed. Campaigns to implement these decrees were resisted. The resistance was met with persecution. The first was 1920-24 under President Obregon. The next was worse - under President Calles (1924-28). This "Calles Law" of 1926 banished all foreign priests and bishops, imprisoned many priests and suppressed all Catholic schools and organizations. It was in this persecution that these 24 Mexican martyrs died for their faith.

Another persecution was launched on the 400th anniversary of Our Lady's appearance at Guadalupe. The worst of all was under President Cardenas in 1934 as he tried to force atheism and Marxism on Mexico.

These same martyrs were beatified on November 22, 1992. During his homily, John Paul II said of the 22 priest martyrs: "Before suffering persecution, each of them offered to God and His people an exemplary priestly life. We should make note of their love for the Eucharist, the source of their interior life and all their pastoral ministry, their devotion to Our lady of Guadalupe, their dedication to catechesis, their option for the poor, the alienated and the infirm. A generous commitment and constant daily immolation made these priests authentic witnesses of Christ even before they received the grace of martyrdom".

He spoke of three young laymen: "Together with these martyr priests we honor three young lay members of Catholic Action: Manuel, Salvador and David, who, with their parish priest, Luis Batis, did not hesitate to acknowledge, as St. Paul tells us, "life is Christ and death is gain", showing the faithful commitment to the Lord and the Church which have been characteristic of the noble Mexican people.

These three laymen were called "to give this greatest testimony of love to all, especially to persecutors". We have the testimony of 28 year-old Manuel, a faithful husband and father of three small children, who, before he was shot, cried out: "I am about to die, but God will not die. He will take care of my wife and children".

These are excerpts from the Pope's homily on May 21, 2000: "During the Jubilee pilgrimage of Mexicans, the Church rejoices in canonizing these children of Mexico: Cristobal Magallances and his 24 companion martyrs, priests and laymen."

The Church in Mexico rejoices at relying on these intercessors in heaven, models of supreme charity who followed in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. They all dedicated their lives to God and their brethren through martyrdom or by generously serving the needy. The firmness of their faith and hope sustained them in various trials they had to endure. They are a precious legacy, a fruit of the faith rooted in the lands of Mexico, a faith which, at the dawn of the third millennium of Christianity, must be preserved and revitalized so that you may continue to be faithful to Christ and to his Church as you were in the past. Mexico ever faithful!

In the first reading we heard how Paul moved about Jerusalem, "preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists; but they were seeking to kill him".

We can well apply this passage from the Acts of the Apostles Cristobal Magallanes and his 24 companion martyrs had to endure in the first 30 years of the 20th century. Most of them belonged to the secular clergy and three were laymen. They did not stop courageously exercising their ministry when religious persecution intensified in the beloved land of Mexico, unleashing hatred of the Catholic religion. They all freely and calmly accepted martyrdom as a witness to their faith, explicitly forgiving their persecutors. Faithful to God and to the Catholic faith so deeply rooted in the ecclesial communities which they served by also promoting their material well-being, today they are an example to the whole Church and to Mexican society in particular.

The Mexican Martyrs: Fathers Cristobal Magallanes, Augustin Cortes, Jose Hurtado, David Bermdez, Justino Madrigal, Alilano Alvarado, Roman Rosales, Julio Mendoza, Petro Ramirez, Rodrigo Aleman, Tranquilino Robles, Jenaro Delgadillo, Jose Varla, Sabas Salazar, Luis Sainz, Toribio Gonzalez, Mateo Magallanes, Pedro Lucero, Jesus Montoya, David Velasco, Margarito Garcia, Miguel de le Mora. Laymen: Manuel Morales (age 28), David Lara (24), Salvador Puente (21).

Their annual feast day in the Church calendar is May 21. Since the Mexican Martyrs of Jubilee 2000, another 13 Mexican martyrs were beatified by John Paul II on November 20, 2005 in Guadalajara during a Pastoral Visit to Mexico.
In one of his many books, Our Holy Father wrote: "The Church offers not solutions, but SAINTS"!