42. Victims of religious persecution in Spain

In the month of October there will take place in Rome a massive Beatification of martyrs of the religious persecution in Spain, between the years 1934 and 1937. Almost 500 martyrs will be raised to the altars. For this reason, we have already heard many critical voices, raised precisely by those who are stirring the past to speak of the “historical memory.” We offer a summary of two interventions of bishops.

The first, and most importantly, that it is necessary to emphasize is that these martyrs are just that: “martyrs,” that is to say, completely innocent victims in a religious persecution. They were not soldiers, nor trade unionists, nor political, nor intellectuals, nor constituted a belligerent, defined ideology. They were not persecuted and martyred for having initiated a debate or any battle. Simply, they were killed for being what they were: consistent believers until disposed to give their lives for what they believed.

In the second place, the Church has been canonizing and beatifying martyrs for twenty centuries; from the very beginning of Christianity. For this reason, no one from the outside, imposes on the Church a schedule of beatifications and canonizations. The pace is twofold: on the one hand, if the declaring blesseds or saints of these martyrs has been acclaimed by the people that honors them through their devotion. And, on the other hand, after a rigorous investigation if the Church is convinced that these martyrs deserve such a category. And, third, in the present case, the Church in Spain does not want the martyrs, prior to the civil war and concomitant to the same, to be used as a weapon against anyone or as a flag, or that teaches the policy of anyone. The Church wishes, socially and culturally, that these martyrs contribute to the reconciliation and the memory of something dramatic that should not happen again. Their example of heroism and generosity, as innocent victims of yesterday and encouragement to the victims who are still being generated in other arenas, challenges us with a sharp and clear message: evil is never overcome with evil, but with good. Violence generates more violence. Only love and forgiveness are creative and able to renew people and societies.”
For its part, the Bishops’ Conference published a statement about the beatification, which, among other things, reads as follows:

“We announce with deep joy that, next fall will take place in Rome the beatification of 498 brothers and sisters in the faith, of the many thousands who gave their lives for love of Jesus Christ during religious persecution in the 1930s of the 20th century.

In 1999, this Plenary Assembly of the Bishops gave thanks to God for the achievements of the twentieth century and he asked forgiveness for the sins of the century that was drawing to a close. Among the sins we remembered the “unheard of violence” to the world, Europe and Spain were swept away by “totalitarian ideologies, they sought to make reality by forcing earthly utopias.” And we gave thanks to God, recalling, with John Paul II, that “at the end of the second millennium, the Church has once again become a Church of martyrs” and that “the testimony of thousands of martyrs and saints has been stronger than the threats and violence of the false prophets of the non-religion and atheism.”

The martyrs are above the tragic circumstances that have led to their death. With their beatification it is, above all, to glorify God by faith that overcomes the world and that transcends the darkness of history and the sins of men. That is why John Paul II wrote: “I would like to propose to everyone, so that we never forget the great sign of hope formed by the many witnesses of the Christian faith that there has been in the last century, both in the East and in the West. They have been able to live the Gospel in situations of hostility and persecution, often to the supreme witness of their blood. These witnesses, especially those who have faced martyrdom, are an eloquent and grandiose sign that asks us to contemplate and imitate. They show the vitality of the Church; they are for her and for humanity a light, because they have made shine in the darkness the light of Christ. More radically still, they show that martyrdom is the supreme incarnation of the Gospel of hope.”

The beatification which we are going to celebrate will contribute to that unforgettable “great sign of hope” that is the witness of the martyrs. Of the 20th century in Spain, 479 have been beatified in eleven ceremonies from 1987, and 11 of them are already Saints.

Almost five hundred have been reunited, this time in a unique celebration. And, as in the past, each case has been studied by itself with all care over the years. These martyrs gave their lives, in different places of Spain, in 1934, 1936 and 1937. They are bishops of Cuenca and Ciudad Real, several secular priests, many religious -Augustinians, Dominican friars and sisters, Salesians, Brothers of the Christian Schools, Marists, different groups of Carmelite friars and Franciscans, Adorers, Trinitarians, Marianists, Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts, Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, seminarians and lay people, young people, married men and women.

We can highlight common features of these new martyrs: they were men and women of faith and prayer, particularly focused on the Eucharist and devotion to the Blessed Virgin; therefore, while it was possible, even in captivity, they participated in the Holy Mass, received communion and invoked  Mary with the recitation of the Rosary; they were apostles and were brave when they had to confess their condition of being believers; they were available to comfort and support their fellow prisoners; rejected proposals that meant to underestimate or renounce their Christian identity; they were strong when they were ill-treated and tortured; forgave their executioners and prayed for them; at the time of the sacrifice, showed serenity and profound peace, they praised God and proclaimed Christ as the one Lord. The beatification which we are going to celebrate is a time of grace for the pilgrim Church in Spain and for society as a whole. We invite you to prepare well for this party and to participate in it so that it becomes for all in a new stimulus for the renewal of Christian life. What we need especially in these times when, at the same time that the secularist mentality is being diffused, reconciliation seems to be threatened in our society. The Martyrs, who died forgiving, are the best encouragement for all to promote the spirit of reconciliation.