The 498 Spanish Martyrs are a group of murder victims in the Spanish Civil War who were beatified by the Catholic Church in October 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI. They originated from many parts of Spain. Their ages ranged from 16 years to 78 years old. Although almost 500 persons, they are only a small part of the Martyrs of the Spanish Civil War.
Background The Martyrs of the Spanish Civil War were clergy, religious and lay persons of the Roman Catholic church who were executed during the Spanish Civil War, in a period known as the Red Terror. It is estimated that in the course of the Red Terror 6,832 members of the Catholic clergy were killed.name="cueva355" Some 2,000 of these have been proposed for canonization and have had their causes advanced to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints (CCS). Pope John Paul II was the first pope to beatify a large number of saints from the Spanish Civil War. About 500 Spanish martyrs were recognized by him in several beatifications since 1987.Katholische Nachrichtenagentur, October 6, 2007 In this ceremony, Benedict XVI beatified 498 individuals, proposed in 23 separate causes, the largest group to be beatified so far. In addition to these, another 1000 martyrs are awaiting conclusion of their causes in the Vatican.
Individual fates The 498 martyrs include bishops, priests, male and female religious and faithful of both sexes. Three were 16 years old and the oldest was 78. They were from all parts of Spain, including the dioceses of Barcelona, Burgos, Madrid, Mérida, Oviedo, Seville, Toledo, Albacete, Cartagena, Ciudad Real, Cuenca, Gerona, Jaén, Málaga and Santander. Although Spain was the site of their martyrdom and the homeland of many of them, there were also some who came from other nations, from France, Mexico and Cuba. They are described as "men and women who were faithful to their obligations", and "who were able to forgive their killers". Cruz Laplana Laguna, the bishop of Cuenca, wrote I cannot go, only here is my responsibility, whatever may happen,Jedin, 617 while Fr. Tirso de Jesús María, a companion of Eusebio Fernandez Arenillas, wrote in the letter sent to his family on the eve of his execution: "Pardon them and bless them and amen to everything, just as I love them and pardon them and bless them".
Beatification ceremony The beatification of the 498 martyrs (list below) took place on Saint Peter's Square not in the Basilica itself, which can include only 60,000 persons. Cardinal José Saraiva Martins, who gave the sermon during the beatification ceremonies, stated that these Martyrs all loved Christ and the Church more than their own life and that the victims of terror forgave their killers, referring to Father Tirso as an example.
The logo of the beatification, because of the very large number of new Blesseds, had as its central theme a red cross, the symbol of love taken to the point of shedding blood for Christ.Mass for the Beatification of 498 Martyrs of the Spanish Civil War
Pope Benedict XVI stated that faith helps to purify reason so that it may succeed in perceiving the truth. The Cardinal invoked the intercession of the Martyrs beatified and of Mary, Queen of Martyrs, "so that we may follow their example".
Spanish reactions Juan Antonio Martínez Camino, the secretary-general of the Spanish bishops, replied to criticism that the martyrs were old fashioned conservatives: the first martyrs of the Church died after they were labeled as traitors of the Roman Empire, and during the French Revolution, Catholic priests were defined as enemies of the revolution. The Spanish victims were branded as an obstacle to historical progress.Zenit News Agency 10/26/2007
The Spanish bishops stated that Spanish society is threatened by militant Secularism. The 498 Martyrs were thus a reminder of other values: "their beatification intends first of all to render glory to God for the faith which conquers the world". The bishops organized a national pilgrimage to Rome, the place of the beatification of the 498 Martyrs, and of the martyrdom of Saint Peter and Saint Paul.Agenzia Fides 30/4/2007
The 23 Causes The 498 Martyrs were proposed in 23 separate causes; the Vatican lists them as: Lucas de San José Tristany Pujol, of the Discalced Brothers of the Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel; Leonardo José Aragonés Mateu, a religious of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools (the De La Salle brothers); Apolonia Lizárraga del Santísimo Sacramento, who was Superior of the Carmelites of Charity, with 61 brothers and sisters of the same orders; Bernardo Fábrega Julià, a Marist Brother; Víctor Chumillas Fernández, Priest of the order of Little Brothers and 21 members of the same order; Antero Mateo García, a lay person was head of family and third order of Saint Dominic. He was slain with 11 others from the second and third order of Saint Dominic; Cruz Laplana y Laguna, the Bishop of Cuenca; Fernando Españo Berdié, a Priest; Narciso de Esténaga Echevarría, Bishop of Ciudad Real, and ten companions; Liberio González Nombela, priest and twelve companions, all clerics of the Archdiocese of Toledo; Eusebio del Niño Jesús Fernández Arenillas, a religious priest of the Discalced Carmelites, and 15 companions; Félix Echevarría Gorostiaga, Priest, and six companions of his order; Teodosio Rafael, a priest of the Congregation of Christian Brothers and three companions from the same order; Buenaventura García Paredes, a priest and Religious; Miguel Léibar Garay, Priest of the Company of Mary, and forty members of that order; Simón Reynés Solivellas and 5 companions, from the missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary and from the congregation of Franciscan sisters; Celestino José Alonso Villar and 9 companions of his order; Ángel María Prat Hostench and 16 companions of the Carmelite order; Enrique Sáiz Aparicio and 62 companions of his Salesian order; Mariano de San José Altolaguirre y Altolaguirre and 9 companions of the order of the Most Holy Trinity; Eufrasio del Niño Jesús Barredo Fernández, Priest of the Carmelite order; Laurentino Alonso Fuente, Virgilio Lacunza Unzu and 44 companions of the Institute of Marist Brothers; Enrique Izquierdo Palacios, Priest and 13 companions of the order of Hermanos Predicadores; Ovidio Bertrán Anucibay Letona and 5 companions from the Institute of Christian Brothers; José María Cánovas Martínez, a diocesan priest; María del Carmen and Rosa y Magdalena Fradera Ferragutcasas, Sisters of the Congregation Hijas del Santísimo e Inmaculado Corazón de María; Avelino Rodríguez Alonso, Priest, order of the Order of Saint Augustine and 97 companions from the same order, together with Six Diocesan priests; Manuela del Corazón de Jesús Arriola Uranga and 22 companions of the congregation Siervas Adoratrices del Santísimo Sacramento y de la Caridad.
The 498 Martyrs
Bishops Cruz Laplana y Laguna, Bishop of Cuenca (3 May 1875 – 8 August 1936) Narciso de Estenaga Echevarría, Bishop of Ciudad Real (29 October 1882 – 22 August 1936)
Diocesan Clergy Agrícola Rodríguez García de los Huertos (18 March 1896 – 21 July 1936) Joaquín de la Madrid Arespacochaga (6 November 1860 – 27 July 1936) Vicente Toledano Valenciano (28 October 1900 – 28 July 1936) Bartolomé Rodríguez Soria (7 September 1894 – 29 July 1936) Ricardo Pla Espí (12 December 1898 – 30 July 1936) Justino Alarcón Vera (1 August 1885 – 1 August 1936) Saturnino Ortega Montealegre (29 November 1866 – 6 August 1936) Fernando Español Berdie (11 October 1875 – 8 August 1936) Francisco López-Gasco Fernández-Largo (4 October 1888 – 9 August 1936) Domingo Sánchez Lázaro (4 August 1860 – 12 August 1936) Liberio González Nombela (30 December 1895 – 18 August 1936) Justo Arévalo Mora (19 June 1869 – 19 August 1936) Pedro Buitrago Morales (24 January 1883 – 19 August 1936) Félix González Bustos (23 February 1903 – 19 August 1936) Julio Melgar Salgado (16 April 1900 – 22 August 1936) José Polo Benito (27 January 1879 – 23 August 1936) Rigoberto Aquilino de Anta Barrio (4 January 1894 – 24 August 1936) Enrique Vidaurreta Palma (16 October 1896 – 31 August 1936) Miguel Beato Sánchez (30 April 1911 – 8 September 1936) Mamerto Carchano y Carchano (21 July 1879 – 8 September 1936) Fortunato Arias Sánchez (11 June 1892 – 12 September 1936) Miguel Díaz Sánchez (30 July 1879 – 15 November 1936) José María Cánovas Martínez (9 August 1894 – 18 November 1936)
Deacons Juan Duarte Martín (17 March 1912 – 5 November 1936)
Seminarians Francisco Maqueda López (10 October 1914 – 12 September 1936) Josep Casas Ros (26 August 1916 – 28 September 1936)
Roman Catholic Laity Prudència Canyelles Ginestà de Aguadé (5 August 1884 – 23 July 1936) Álvaro Santos Cejudo Moreno Chocano (19 February 1880 – 17 September 1936)
Marist Brothers of the Schools (Marists) Plàcid (Bernat) Fàbrega Julià (18 February 1889 – 6 October 1934) Mariano (Laurentino) Alonso Fuente (21 November 1881 – 8 October 1936) Néstor (Alberto María) Vivar Valdivieso (4 March 1910 – 8 October 1936) Anicet (Anselm) Falgueras Casellas (16 June 1879 – 8 October 1936) Antoni (Antolí) Roig Alembau (6 February 1891 – 8 October 1936) Pedro (Baudilio) Ciordia Hernández (19 May 1888 – 8 October 1936) Casimir (Bernabé) Riba Pi (14 September 1877 – 8 October 1936) Carles (Carles Rafael) Brengaret Pujol (11 July 1917 – 8 October 1936) Josep (Dionís Martí) Cesari Mercadal (16 January 1903 – 8 October 1936) Ferran (Epifani) Suñer Estrach (26 March 1874 – 8 October 1936) Fermín (Felipe José) Latienda Azpilicueta (7 July 1891 – 8 October 1936) Félix (Félix León) Ayúcar Eraso (4 December 1911 – 8 October 1936) Fortunato (Fortunato Andrés) Ruiz Peña (2 February 1898 – 8 October 1936) Julio (Frumencio) García Galarza (28 June 1909 – 8 October 1936) Segismundo (Gabriel Eduardo) Hidalgo Martínez (28 April 1913 – 8 October 1936) Joan (Gaudenci) Tubau Perelló (10 March 1894 – 8 October 1936) Felipe (Gil Felipe) Ruiz Peña (23 March 1907 – 8 October 1936) Antoni (Hermògenes) Badía Andale (13 April 1908 – 8 October 1936) Victoriano (Isaías María) Martínez Martín (1 March 1899 – 8 October 1936) Nicolás (Ismael) Ran Goñi (6 December 1909 – 8 October 1936) Jaume (Jaume Ramon) Morella Bruguera (25 November 1898 – 8 October 1936) Gregorio (José Carmelo) Faci Molins (2 March 1908 – 8 October 1936) Nicolás (José Federico) Pereda Revuelta (20 February 1916 – 8 October 1936) Joan (Joan Crisòstom) Pelfort Planell (21 May 1913 – 8 October 1936) Jesús (Juan De Mata) Menchón Franco (15 June 1898 – 8 October 1936) Pere (Laureà Carles) Sitges Puig (4 May 1889 – 8 October 1936) Jeroni (Leònides) Messegué Ribera (27 January 1884 – 8 October 1936) Florentino (Leopoldo José) Redondo Insausti (14 March 1885 – 8 October 1936) Victor (Lino Fernando) Gutiérrez Gómez (23 December 1899 – 8 October 1936) Ángel (Licarión) Roba Osorno (27 January 1895 – 8 October 1936) Isidro (Martiniano) Serrano Fabón (5 August 1901 – 8 October 1936) Leocadio (Miguel Ireneo) Rodríguez Nieto (9 December 1899 – 8 October 1936) Leoncio (Porfirio) Pérez Gómez (6 July 1899 – 8 October 1936) Josep (Priscillià) Mir Pons (1 February 1889 – 8 October 1936) Feliciano (Ramón Alberto) Ayúcar Eraso (24 January 1914 – 8 October 1936) Victoriano (Salvio) Gómez Gutiérrez (8 November 1884 – 8 October 1936) Serafín (Santiago) Zugaldía Lacruz (16 April 1894 – 8 October 1936) Santiago (Santiago María) Saiz Martínez (30 December 1912 – 8 October 1936) Santos (Santos) Escudero Miguel (30 October 1907 – 8 October 1936) Lucio (Teódulo) Zudaire Armendía (23 April 1890 – 8 October 1936) Josep (Víctor Conrad) Ambrós Dejuán (26 March 1898 – 8 October 1936) José Miguel (Vito José) Elola Arruti (5 March 1893 – 8 October 1936) Juan (Vivencio) Núñez Casado (10 January 1908 – 8 October 1936) Ramon (Wulfran) Mill Arán (3 March 1909 – 8 October 1936)