On this day we remember in the liturgy a group of 18 Spanish Redemptorist martyrs who suffered death during the persecution of the Church during the civil war of 1936. They belonged to the religious communities of Cuenca and Madrid. They were beatified by Pope Francis in 2013 (martyrs of Cuenca) and in 2022 (martyrs of Madrid).
Pope Francis: “May the example of these witnesses of Christ, even to the shedding of blood, push us to be consistent and courageous; may their intercession sustain those who today work to sow the Gospel in the world.” (Angelus 23/10/2022).
CUENCA
Father José Xavier Gorosterratzu Jaunarena (1877-1936)
Father Cyriaco Olarte Pérez de Mendiguren (1893-1936)
Father Miguel Goñi Áriz (1902-1936)
Father Julián Pozo Ruiz de Samaniego (1903-1936)
Father Pedro Romero Espejo (1871-1938)
Brother Victoriano – Victor Calvo Lozano (1896-1936)
MADRID
Fr. Vicente Nicasio Renuncio Toribio (1876-1936)
Fr. Crescencio Severo Ortiz Blanco (1881-1936)
Fr. Ángel Martínez Miquélez (1907-1936)
Br. Gabriel – Bernardo Sáiz Gutiérrez (1896-1936)
Br. Nicesio Pérez del Palomar Quincoces (1859-1936)
Br. Gregorio Zugasti Fernández de Esquide (1884-1936)
Br. Aniceto Lizasoain Lizaso (1877-1936)
Fr. José María Urruchi Ortiz (1909-1936)
Br. Pascual – José Joaquín Erviti Insausti (1902) -1936)
Fr. Antonio Girón González (1871-1936)
Fr. Donato Jiménez Viviano (1873-1936)
Br. Máximo – Rafael Perea Pinedo (1901-1936)
Prayer:
O God, our Father, who made Blessed Joseph Xavier, Vincent Nicasio, priests, and companions, martyrs, sustained by the blessed Virgin Mary, imitators of Christ even to the ‘shedding of blood, by their example and intercession, grant us also, to confirm the faith by word and deed.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who is God…