Nov. 23, Blessed Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez

by Gerelyn Hollingsworth on Nov. 23, 2009

Today is the feast of Blessed Miguel Pro, S.J., martyred in Mexico in 1927.

¡Viva Cristo Rey!¡Viva Cristo Rey!

Please click here to view "Mexico's Merry Martyr". Link near bottom left.

More pictures, including an autopsy photograph, here.

"Pro was killed by a firing squad in front of news cameras that the government had brought in to record what it hoped would be the embarrassing spectacle of a priest pleading for mercy. It was one of the first modern attempts to use media images to manipulate public opinion for antireligious purposes. But instead of wavering, Pro displayed great dignity. He walked out to the execution bravely, asking only to be allowed to pray before dying. After a few minutes, he stood up, extended his arms in the form of a cross, a traditional Mexican posture in prayer, and with a steady voice, neither defiant not desperate, movingly intoned words that have since become famous: 'Viva Cristo Rey,' 'Long Live Christ the King.'"

--From The Catholic Martyrs of the Twentieth Century: A Comprehensive World History, by Robert Royal.

In 1956, Treasure Chest published "The Merry Martyr," a ten-part story of Father Pro.

A prayer to Blessed Miguel:

Beato Miguel, antes de tu muerte tu le dijiste a tu amigo que él te pidiera favores cuando tú estuvieras en el cielo. Te ruego que intercedas por mí y, junto con Nuestra Señora y todos los ángeles y los santos, pidan a Nuestro Señor que El conceda mi petición (aquí menciona tu petición), si es la voluntad de Dios.

The cause for the canonization of Blessed Miguel in the United States is handled by the Vice-Postulator in Mexico, Fr. Fernando Suarez, S.J. To report a favor obtained through the intercession of Blessed Miguel Pro, S.J., send an e-mail to Lawrence LeLeux: lawrence@miguelproshrine.com

Subscribe to NCR

Want to read more about important issues in the life of the Church? A subscription to NCR will keep you up to date and informed.

Subscribe now!

Our school, Beatty Park

Submitted by A & M (not verified) on Nov. 30, 2009.

Our school, Beatty Park Elementary in Columbus, OH, tells us that they will have to investigate this as to whether this is a legitimate religious observance. They also questioned us about September 6, the Nativity of Mary. They try to demean us for being religious, at least that's how it feels. If you could lend a hand and tell them what the Blessed Miguel Pro meant to you too we would appreciate it.

Thank you

Post new comment

NCR Comment code:

  1. Be respectful. Do not attack the writer. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  2. Use appropriate language. Avoid vulgarities and slurs.
  3. Keep to the point. Deliberate digressions don't aid the discussion.

For more detailed guidelines, visit our User Guidelines page.

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
(if you have one; if not, leave this blank)
  • Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically.
  • Allowed HTML tags: <a> <em> <strong> <cite> <code> <ul> <ol> <li> <dl> <dt> <dd> <font> <swf> <swf list>
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
  • You may use <swf file="song.mp3"> to display Flash files inline

More information about formatting options

CAPTCHA
This is to prove you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.