杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

杏MAP导航 Francis recalled the 鈥渉eroic witness鈥� of nine seminarians killed 鈥渋n odium fidei鈥� 鈥� that is, out of hatred of the Faith 鈥� in 1930鈥檚 Spain.

Ángel Cuartas Cristobál was in the Major Seminary in Oviedo in 1934 at the beginning of the Asturian miners鈥� strike. The strike quickly turned violent, and Cuartas, along with several other seminarians, fled the Seminary. They took refuge in a nearby stable, but were soon discovered. As they were being led to execution, one of the seminarians, César Gonzalo Zurro Fanjul, cried out, 鈥淟ong live Christ the King! Long live Catholic Spain!鈥�

Following the Lord

In all, six seminarians between the ages of 18 and 24 were killed on 7 October 1934. Later, three other seminarians, martyred during the Spanish Civil War which broke out a few years later, were added to the cause for canonization. The nine young martyrs were beatified in Oviedo Cathedral on Saturday 9 March 2019.

鈥淭hese young candidates for the priesthood loved the Lord so much that they followed Him along the Way of the Cross鈥�, 杏MAP导航 Francis said on Sunday. He prayed that 鈥渢heir heroic witness might help seminarians, priests, and bishops to remain open and generous, in order to faithfully serve the Lord and the holy people of God鈥�.

Beatification

The beatification ceremony was presided over by Cardinal Angelo Becciu, the Prefect for the Congregation for Causes of Saints. In his homily, Cardinal Becciu said the new Blesseds 鈥渄id not hesitate to confess their love for Christ, ascending with Him to the Cross, in the extreme offering of their young lives鈥�.

In the face of the 鈥渟candals that seem to have no end, and which disfigure the face of the Bride of Christ鈥�, Cardinal Becciu said, 鈥淲e need priests, consecrated persons, generous shepherds, like these martyrs of Oviedo. We need honest and irreproachable priests who bring souls to God, and who do not cause suffering to the Church, or disturbance to the people of God鈥�.

The newly beatified martyrs, he said, 鈥渨ith their message and martyrdom, speak to us and remind us that, although dying for the faith is a gift given only to some, living the faith is a call addressed to all鈥�.