St Christopher Magellanes and companions (19th & 20th century Mexican martyrs)
During
the millenium year 2000 Pope John Paul II canonised a number of Mexican
saints.
The pope rejoiced with the Church of Mexico that it now had
intercessors in heaven, models of supreme charity, who followed in the
footsteps of Jesus, dedicating their lives to God and their brethren
through martyrdom or by generously serving the needy.
During the millenium year 2000 Pope John Paul II canonised a number
of Mexican saints: Christobal Magallanes and his 24 companion martyrs,
priests and laymen; José María de Yermo y Parres, priest and founder of
the Religious Servants of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and María de Jesús
Sacramentado Venegas, foundress of the Daughters of the Sacred Heart of
Jesus.
Father Christobal Magallanes Jara (1869-1927) and twenty four companions martyrs
Born in Totaltiche, Jalisco, in the archdiocese of Guadalajara, Mexico, to a
farming family, Christobal worked as a shepherd in his youth.
He
entered the seminary at 19 and became parish priest in his native
parish. He was eager to spread the Gospel.
He founded schools, a
newspaper, catechism centres for children and adults, carpentry shops,
an electric plant to power the mills and also helped set up agricultural
co-ops.
When the anti-Church government closed down the seminaries,
Father Christobal gathered displaced seminarians, and started his own
seminary, which was quickly suppressed.
He formed another, and another,
and when they were all closed, the seminarians conducted classes in
private homes.
Christobal wrote and preached against armed rebellion, but was
falsely accused of promoting the Cristero guerilla revolt.
Arrested on
21st May 1927 while en route to celebrate Mass, he was executed without a
trial four days later.
He gave away his last remaining possessions to
his executioners, absolved them, and turned to his companion Fr Agustine
Caloca before he was shot, said: "Be at peace, my son; just a minute
and then we're in heaven".
José María de Yermo y Parres (1851-1904)
The son
of a lawyer, his mother died when he was only seven weeks old.
At
sixteen José joined the Vincentians, but was ordained priest for the
diocese of Leon in 1879. One day he was shocked when he discovered some
pigs eating two newly-born babies.
This triggered his opening a
welcoming place for the needy and abandoned. He also founded the
Servants of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and of the Poor to help in the
orphanages, hospitals and schools he founded.
St María de Jesús Sacramentado Venegas (1868-1959)
Maria
was born at Zapotlanejo, a municipality of Jalisco, Mexico. Her mother
died when she was young, and she was brought up by a sister of her
husband.
She had a great devotion to the Holy Eucharist.
At 37 during a
retreat, she decided to join a group of ladies caring for the sick in
the Hospital of the Sacred Heart founded by the local bishop.
All
remarked on the love and humility with which she cared for the sick and
the poor.
In 1921 she became the superior of the group of the Daughters
of the Sacred Heart, now recognised as a religious community in the
diocese.
She died in 1959.