"Come, you who are
blessed by my Father;
take your
inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you
since the creation of
the world. - Matthew 25: 34
...Let us ask our Lord
then to make us souls devoted
to the Blessed Eucharist, so that our relationship
with Him brings forth
joy and serenity and a desire
for justice.
In this way we will make it easier for
others to recognize Christ;
we will put Christ
at the centre of all human
activities."
St Josemaria
Escriva
Quote to honor today's
Feast ...
Fr Magallanes wrote and preached against armed
rebellion, but was falsely accused of promoting the Cristero Rebellion in the
area. He 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
(1924-1928). Arrested on May 21, 1927, while en route to celebrate
Mass at a farm, he gave away his few remaining possessions to his executioners,
gave them absolution, and without a trial, he was martyred four days
later.
Mateo
Correa was shot when he refused to break the seal of the confessional.
Jose Maria Robles was arrested when he was overheard agreeing
to officiate a wedding. Julio Alvares Mendoza was captured on
his way to say Mass. Before he was shot, Mendoza told his executioners, "My
crime is to be a minister of God. I pardon you."
St. Christopher
Magallanes and Companions*
Mexico
~ 1915-1937
*22
priests/3 layman
Memorialized in movie, For Greater
Glory
When imprisoned by the government authorities, St
Christopher
was heard to shout from his
cell: "I am innocent and I die innocent.
I forgive the authors of my death from my heart, and I ask God
that my blood would serve to bring peace to
divided Mexicans".
St Christopher and Companions, pray
for us!
During his homily at the
canonization Mass on May 21, 2000, Saint 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, contributing 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.”
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