SAINT OF THE DAY -- May 21 - Saint Cristóbal Magallanes and Companions
May 21
St. Cristóbal Magallanes and Companions(d. 1915-1928)
"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
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.”
Prayer:Father God, we thank You for martyrs like St. Christopher Magallanes, whose lives continue to inspire us to struggle, and if needed, to die for spreading the Good News of Your beloved Son. As Jesus Christ said, “Anyone who acknowledges me before others, I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father” (Mt.10:32-33). Lord, we pray for our misguided leaders who employ their authority in preventing others from “casting out demons in His Name.” Amen.
Source: American Catholic Organization
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If you are a victim of domestic or sexual violence, please know that my husband and I pray for you every single night.
If you need immediate assistance, dial 911.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline:
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SIGNS OF AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP
Do you:
feel afraid of your partner much of the time?
avoid certain topics fear of angering your partner?
feel that you can’t do anything right for your partner?
believe that you deserve to be hurt or mistreated?
wonder if you’re the one who is crazy?
feel emotionally numb or helpless?
Does your partner:
- humiliate, criticize, or yell at you?
- treat you so badly that you’re embarrassed for your friends or family to see?
- ignore or put down your opinions or accomplishments?
- blame you for his own abusive behavior?
- see you as property or a sex object, rather than as a person?
Does your partner:
have a bad and unpredictable temper?
hurt you, or threaten to hurt or kill you?
threaten to take your children away or harm them?
threaten to commit suicide if you leave?
force you to have sex?
destroy your belongings?
Does your partner:
- act excessively jealous and possessive?
- control where you go or what you do?
- keep you from seeing your friends or family?
- limit your access to money, the phone, or the car?
- constantly check up on you?