Monday, May 21, 2012

Saint of the Day - St. Cristobal Magallanes and Companions


Too often we think of saints and martyrs as distant figures, living in a time well before us; yet there are saints among us today, and martyrs too.  Today is the Memorial of St. Cristobal Magallanes and companions, whose martyrdom began a hundred years ago just to the south of us.


Mexico has had a long history of anti-clericalism in a predominately Catholic country.  When Maximilian von Hapsburg was installed by the French Emperor Napoleon III as Emperor of Mexico; the dubious venture had the backing of the church hierarchy.  When Maximilian was deposed and executed by Mexican forces, the new government and constitution of Mexico contained strong anti-clerical provisions which restricted the Church’s freedom.  In the revolutionary struggles of the early twentieth century, the church hierarchy had supported President Porfirio Diaz, who had been deposed by a revolution led by Francisco Madero.  When Madero himself was overthrown and executed by Victoriano Huerto (who was supported by the church hierarchy), the revolutionary generals Caranza, Villa and Zapata in turn overthrew him.  The succeeding Mexican governments through the 1910s and 1920s became increasingly secular and repressive.  In the 1920s, the Calles Laws were passed, which (among other repressions) confiscated church property; closed convents, schools and monasteries; and severely restricted and persecuted the clergy.

                                Members of the Cristeros Movement hung in Jalisco

In response to this repression, Catholic organizations formed the Cristero Movement (from their slogan, "For Christ the King and the Virgin of Guadalupe!") to fight for religious freedom.  Although originally conceived as a peaceful protest, violence escalated as the government used fear, intimidation and physical violence to put down the movement.   Priests often lost their lives for conducting their ministry or even wearing clerical garb in public.  Father Cristobal Magallanes had established a clandestine seminary in Totatiche in the state of Jalisco.  For this, and for secretly ministering the sacraments to the people, Magallanes and his companions were arrested, tried and sentenced to death.  As he was led from his cell, Fr. Magallanes proclaimed, “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".

                                                      Father Cristobal Magallanes

In 1992, Blessed Pope John Paul II beatified Father Magallanes, his companions and a total of 24 clergy and 3 laymen who had been martyred for their participation in the non-violent actions of the Cristero Movement.  Eight years later, he canonized them, saying at the canonization mass, “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. 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.”


Even today, in the Middle East, Africa and China; Christians are still subject to persecution and martyrdom.  We in the West live in affluence and security; seemingly apathetic to the slow and insidious encroachments on religious liberty advanced by increasingly secular governments, that wish not only to marginalize the expression of faith, but are outright hostile to it.  Our brothers and sisters in the world are suffering and dying for the basic religious rights that we are so callously bartering away for a false sense of luxury and security.  Let us pray that the shining witness of St. Cristobal Magallanes and his companions will stir us to fully claim the religious freedom granted, not by any government, but by God.

 



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