Ricardo Gómez Roji (9 June 1881 – 15 August 1936) was a Spanish Roman Catholic priest, scholar, publisher and politician. For 26 years he served as a lecturing canon by the Burgos Cathedral, known locally for his oratory skills; he also taught theology at the Pontifical University of Salamanca, animated local Catholic agrarian trade unions, and edited and managed few Catholic periodicals and bulletins. His political career climaxed in 1931–1933; elected to the Congress of Deputies as a candidate of a broad local monarchist-Integrist-conservative alliance, he served one term within the Agrarian parliamentary minority. Afterwards he approached Carlism and advanced its cause as a propagandist. Roji was executed by Spanish Republicans during the Spanish Civil War.
Family and youth
There is close to nothing known about distant ancestors of Gómez Roji.his segundo apellido was at times spelled as "Rogi", especially in the 1910s, compare La Correspondencia de Espana 12.06.11, available here One uncertain source claims that at least one branch of his grandparents were traditionally related to Pedro Bernardo, a mountainous town on the southern slopes of Sierra de Gredos, in the Ávila province.“su abuela nació en Pedro Bernardo”, comments at Gómez-Roji entry, [in:] Pedro Bernardo service 16.12.13, available here His father, Pedro Gómez Beades (died 1920),La Voz de Castilla 24.10.20, available here practiced as a surgeon in Pedro Bernardo. One author refers to him as “profesor de cirurgía”,Jorge López Teulón, Ricardo Gómez Rojí (1), [in:] Religion en Libertad service 29.11.13, available here but another one names him rather “practicante”, sort of a rural feldsher.Jesús Maldonado Jiménez, Actitudes político religiosas de la minoría agraria de las Cortes Constituyentes de 1931 [PhD Universidad Complutense 1974], Madrid 2015, p. 175 Gómez Beades revealed some penchant for letters and used to write poetry, some of his pieces were published in local press.La Victoria 12.12.08, available here He married Carolina Josefa Rojí y Sánchez; none of the sources consulted provided any information either on her or on her family. The couple settled in Pedro Bernardo and had 5 children, Ricardo born as the oldest one; his siblings were Dolores, Adriana, Argimiro and Anastasio.López Teulón 2013 None of them became a public figure. Anastasio was killed in 1935; the crime was unrelated to politics.Diario de Burgos 30.11.30, available here
It is not clear where the young Ricardo commenced his education. One biographer claims that already in 1894 he opted for ecclesiastic career and entered Seminario Pontificio in Comillas,Diario de Burgos 20.03.92, available here but another source notes that in 1894 he rather entered the local seminary in Ávila, which he reportedly frequented until ordained presbyter in 1906.exact dates differ; one author claims Gómez was ordained on May 9, 1909, see Maldonado Jiménez 2015, p. 175; another scholar suggests June 9, 1909, Santiago Martínez Sánchez, El Cardenal Pedro Segura y Sáenz (1880-1957) [PhD thesis Universidad de Navarra], Pamplona 2002, p. 20 However, in 1900 he was already recorded by the Cantabrian press as a student of philosophy at Comillas; he distinguished himself as author or religious poems, which he used to recite himself during religious feasts in Comillas.La Atalaya 31.12.00, available here One more author maintains that having completed his initial curriculum, Gómez entered the Comillas seminary as late as in 1902.López Teulón 2013 He pursued theology and one of his fellow seminarians was Pedro Segura y Sáenz, the future primate of Spain.Jorge López Teulón, Gómez Roji, Ricardo, [in:] Tradición Viva service 09.12.13, available here According to some sources he double-majored and is referred to as “dos veces doctor”,López Teulón 2013 namely in theology and in philosophy;Maldonado Jiménez 2015, p. 175 he demonstrated interest in broad cultural spectrum and was among most brilliant students recorded at the institution.Diario de Burgos 20.03.92, available here
Gómez's first assignment was the role of coadjutor in the parish of Calzada de Oropesa, not far away from his native town.Maldonado Jiménez 2015, p. 175 It lasted rather briefly since in 1907 he was already in Burgos, active at unspecified posts in various locations;according to one scholar, before moving in to Burgos Gómez served “en varia parroquias de Toledo, Avila y Burgos”, Antonio M. Moral Roncal, La cuestión religiosa en la Segunda República Española: Iglesia y carlismo, Madrid 2009, , p. 208 he was noted as giving sermons in the parishes of La Merced,Diario de Burgos 16.11.07, available here San Lorenzo el RealDiario de Burgos 26.05.08, available here and San Cosme y San Damián,Diario de Burgos 25.11.08, available here as well as providing religious service in the female orders of Hijas de María InmaculadaDiario de Burgos 14.12.07, available here and Santa Dorotea.Diario de Burgos 27.08.08, available here In 1908 he applied for the vacant post of a lecturing canonin original “canongia lectoral” at the cathedral, the most prestigious Burgos church and one of the most prestigious sanctuaries in Spain. He faced tough competition of 6 counter-candidatesDiario de Burgos 22.06.08, available here and lost.Gómez's work prepared for the exam was a treaty on prophet Ezequiel, Diario de Burgos 30.06.08, available here In 1909 Gómez was delegated to the newly founded parish of Santa Agueda,Diario de Burgos 05.02.09, available here where he acted as coadjutor.Diario de Burgos 14.08.09, available here In 1910 Gómez took part in new opposiciones for the cathedral canongiaDiario de Burgos 09.07.10, available here and this time he emerged successful;La Correspondencia de España 24.07.10, available here, El Siglo Futuro 01.08.10, available here; some sources claim that Gómez became a canon in 1909, Martínez Sánchez 2002, p. 35 he would hold the post until death for the following 26 years.
Religious service: canon, director and professor
Gómez's role as the lecturing canon was first of all to deliver sermons during religious services at the cathedral; indeed he preached regularly throughout the 1910ssee e.g. El Correo Español 15.10.16, available here and Diario de Burgos 23.11.18, available here and 1920s.see e.g. Diario de Burgos 23.09.21, available here Initially little known,see e.g. Diario de Burgos 14.12.12, available here, Diario de Burgos 08.12.13, available here in few years he grew to prominence and already in 1914 he was referred to as “elocuente orador”;La Correspondencia de España 08.07.14, available here by mid-decade Gómez was taking to the pulpit during major feasts like the Palm Sunday and in presence of prestigious audience like the local ayuntamiento.La Voz de Castilla 05.04.14, available here In the late 1910s his position in the Burgos community was already well established; not only hailed as “orador sagrado de bien cimentada y merecida fama”,La Voz de Castilla 02.07.16, available here on numerous occasions he had his sermons discussed in detail in local Catholic press, usually acclaimed for doctrinal competence,El Monte Carmelo 15.09.16, available here oratory skills and educational value.La Acción 31.03.23, available here He was far less frequently noted as engaged in other routine religious duties; his presence during wedding mass was considered a mark of prestige for the marrying couple.Diario de Burgos 25.10.24, available here
Apart from delivering sermons Gómez engaged in numerous Burgos-based Catholic organizations. In 1913 he was among the founders of Real Hermandad del Santísimo Cristo de BurgosDiario de Burgos 06.09.60, available here and by 1917 he grew to the abbot of the brotherhood;Tierra Hidalga 06.01.17, available here he performed the role at least until the late 1920s.Diario de Burgos 12.11.17, available here In the mid-1910s he became "director espiritual" of Asociación de Devotos de San José de la MontañaDiario de Burgos 17.01.14, available here and director of Asociación Corte de Honor a Nuestra Señora del Pilar.Diario de Burgos 11.09.16, available here In the early 1920s Gómez engaged in Unión Misional del CleroDiario de Burgos 12.01.24, available here and by mid-decade he was member of Junta Directiva of Ateneo de Burgos;Diario de Burgos 02.04.24, available here in 1928 he became vice-president of Junta Diocesana of Liga de Defensa del CleroDiario de Burgos 08.02.28, available here and in 1930 he assumed management of Círculo de Estudios of Internado Teresiano in Burgos.Diario de Burgos 28.11.30, available here As member of some of these organizations Gómez organized pilgrimages, e.g. in 1925 to Rome and the Holy Land;Diario de Burgos 07.07.25, available here he engaged also in charity, e.g. by contributing to Fiesta de la Caridad.Diario de Burgos 20.01.12, available here Since the early 1910s he was engaged in buildup of Sindicación Agrícola,Maldonado Jiménez 2015, p. 175 local Catholic agrarian trade unions.Diario de Burgos 20.03.92, available here
As competent scholar and good organizer Gómez contributed to major nationwide Catholic projects, e.g. co-organizing Congreso Eucarístico Internacional in Madrid of 1911La Correspondencia de España 12.06.11, available here, Moral Roncal 2009, p. 208 or representing the Burgos diocese during preparations to Eucharistic Congress in Rome of 1922;Diario de Burgos, 20.03.92, available here, also Moral Roncal 2009, p. 208 he also took part in countless minor initiatives, like representing Burgos in the 1925 centenary of birth of San Luis Gonzaga.El Día de Palencia 24.12.25, available here In acknowledgement of his scholarly competence in 1920 he was nominated professor of theology at Seminario de San Jerónimo, the Burgos branch of Universidad Pontificia of Salamanca;Diario de Burgos 01.10.20, available here he later specialized in dogmatics.Boletín Ecclesiastico 15.10.23, available here In the early 1920s he joined the staff of Pontificio y Real Seminario Español de S. Francisco Javier para Misiones Extranjeras, the Burgos-based papal centre which prepared candidates for missionary service.Boletín del Clero del Obispado de León 10.03.21, available here
Beyond religion: lecturer, publisher, author