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

Catholic Forum

CRISTOBAL MAGALLANES JARA

Memorial: 25 May
Profile: Born to a farm family, and worked as a shepherd in his youth. Entered the seminary at 19. Parish priest at Totatiche, Mexico. Helped found schools, a newspaper, catechism centers for children and adults, carpentry shops, and an electric plant to power the mills. Worked with the indigenous people to form agrarian cooperatives with the town's people. Noted for his devotion to Our Lady.

When the anti-Church government closed all seminaries, Father Cristobal gathered displaced seminarians, and started his own seminary; it was quickly suppressed. He formed another, and another, and when they were all closed, the seminarians conducted classes in private homes.

He wrote and preached against armed rebellion, but was falsley accused of promoting the Cristero guerilla revolt. Arrested on 21 May 1927 while en route to celebrate Mass at a farm. Gave away his few remaining possessions to his executioners, gave them absolution, and without a trial, he was martyred with Saint Agustin Caloca.
Born: 1869
Died: shot on 25 May 1927 at Colotitlan, Jalisco, Mexico
Beatified: 22 November 1992 by Pope John Paul II
Canonized: 21 May 2000 by Pope John Paul II during the Jubilee of Mexico
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Readings: 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 serves toward the peace of our divided Mexico.
-Saint Cristobal just before his executioners fired

American Catholic’s Saint of the Day

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 society—even 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.

Comment:

Every martyr realizes how to avoid execution but refuses to pay the high price of doing so. A clear conscience was more valuable than a long life.
We may be tempted to compromise our faith while telling ourselves that we are simply being realistic, dealing with situations as we find them. Is survival really the ultimate value? Do our concrete, daily choices reflect our deepest values, the ones that allow us to “tick” the way we do?
Anyone can imagine situations in which being a follower of Jesus is easier than the present situation. Saints remind us that our daily choices, especially in adverse circumstances, form the pattern of our lives.

Quote:

During his homily at the canonization Mass on May 21, 2000, Pope John Paul II addressed the Mexican men, women and children present in Rome and said: “After the harsh trials that the Church endured in Mexico during those turbulent years, today Mexican Christians, encouraged by the witness of these witnesses to the faith, can live in peace and harmony, contribute the wealth of gospel values to society. The Church grows and advances, since she is the crucible in which many priestly and religious vocations are born, where families are formed according to God's plan, and where young people, a substantial part of the Mexican population, can grow with the hope of a better future. May the shining example of Cristóbal Magallanes and his companion martyrs help you to make a renewed commitment of fidelity to God, which can continue to transform Mexican society so that justice, fraternity and harmony will prevail among all.”

Many people think of Mexico as being very Catholic.

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...

Saint Cristobal Magallanes Jara

Memorial: 25 May
Profile: Born to a farm family, and worked as a shepherd in his youth. Entered the seminary at 19. Parish priest at Totatiche, Mexico. Helped found schools, a newspaper, catechism centers for children and adults, carpentry shops, and an electric plant to power the mills. Worked with the indigenous people to form agrarian cooperatives with the town's people. Noted for his devotion to Our Lady.

When the anti-Church government closed all seminaries, Father Cristobal gathered displaced seminarians, and started his own seminary; it was quickly suppressed. He formed another, and another, and when they were all closed, the seminarians conducted classes in private homes.

He wrote and preached against armed rebellion, but was falsley accused of promoting the Cristero guerilla revolt. Arrested on 21 May 1927 while en route to celebrate Mass at a farm. Gave away his few remaining possessions to his executioners, gave them absolution, and without a trial, he was martyred with Saint Agustin Caloca.
Born: 1869
Died: shot on 25 May 1927 at Colotitlan, Jalisco, Mexico
Beatified: 22 November 1992 by Pope John Paul II
Canonized: 21 May 2000 by Pope John Paul II during the Jubilee of Mexico

Readings: 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 serves toward the peace of our divided Mexico.

-Saint Cristobal just before his executioners fired
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