By Laura Becerra
Youth Ministry Coordinator for the Archdiocese of Denver
Have you ever imagined what it would be like if you didn’t have the freedom to practice your faith in this country?
Many of us think that religious persecution is a thing of the past, something far removed from our reality, and we take for granted the freedom to live and express our faith openly. However, it is important to remember that not long ago, just over a hundred years ago, in Mexico, our neighboring country, the government implemented a series of laws that essentially prohibited the practice of the Catholic faith. The consequences for those who did not comply with these laws ranged from detention and torture to death.
This period in Mexican history was a fertile ground for the emergence of many martyrs. Many people lost their lives defending and practicing their faith, like Blessed Father Miguel Agustín Pro.
“¡Viva Cristo Rey!” (“Long live Christ the King!”) These were the last words of Father Miguel Agustín Pro before he was executed on November 23, 1927, in Mexico City, becoming another victim of the religious persecution that plagued the country at that time. His execution is particularly famous because Plutarco Calles, then-President of Mexico, invited the media to witness the execution of this Jesuit priest, aiming to set an example for other priests and the country, showing what would happen to them if they continued practicing their faith in violation of the law. The next day, the photograph of Father Miguel Agustín, moments before being shot, appeared on the front pages of newspapers. In the image, he stood with arms outstretched in the form of a cross, with a rosary in one hand and a cross in the other. This is how he died, as a martyr.
We know how he died, but a reflection on the rest of his life reveals how God prepared Father Miguel Agustín for his eventual sacrifice.
Who was Father Miguel Agustín Pro?
Perhaps you have heard of Blessed Miguel Agustín Pro as the prankster priest who, during the time of persecution, would use disguises to avoid arrest. He was born on January 13, 1891, in the town of Guadalupe, Zacatecas, as the third of eleven children of Miguel and Josefa Pro. He was baptized by a priest who had recently returned from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and used water from the Jordan River to welcome him to the Catholic faith, a providential moment for this future martyr. His parents instilled faith in all their children, especially teaching them respect, love and obedience. These values helped Father Miguel Agustín when, as a priest, he was ordered by his superiors to hide during the persecution. Although he did not always agree, he obeyed.
His father, Mr. Miguel, worked as an engineer in the mines. In his adolescence, young Miguel Agustín often accompanied his mother to the mines, where she offered charity to the miners’ families. There, he learned about the harsh living conditions of the workers, who, despite their long working hours, barely managed to cover their families’ basic needs. His mother decided to open a hospital to care for the miners and their families, and Miguel Agustín and his sisters helped with daily tasks. In this charitable work, the Pro family began to experience the persecution that was already looming. The new mayor of the town ordered, among other things, the prohibition of any priest’s presence in the small hospital to administer the anointing of the sick to the dying.
His Priesthood
Father Miguel Agustín was ordained a priest just two years before his execution, when he was only 36 years old. However, his love for his vocation was evident from the beginning. He considered the priesthood a gift from God and everything that stemmed from it as grace. In a letter to a friend who was about to be ordained, he wrote: “There is something in me that I had never felt before. I see everything in a different way. It is not the fruit of my studies nor of virtue more or less solid, and it is certainly nothing personal or human. It comes from the priestly character which the Holy Spirit stamps on our souls.”
A few months after his ordination, Father Miguel Agustín suffered from various health problems, and his superiors deemed it appropriate for him to return to Mexico to be with his family and people, as there was little hope of his health improving. No one could have imagined what would happen during the last sixteen months of Father Miguel Agustín’s life.
Persecution
Upon his arrival in Mexico in 1926, Father Miguel Agustín witnessed the persecution suffered by his people and, despite his fragile health, dedicated himself entirely to his mission. He began celebrating Masses in private homes, hearing confessions, organizing Holy Hours, distributing the Eucharist in various homes and administering the sacraments of baptism and marriage, all while evading the authorities. On several occasions, the police were close to discovering him and his clandestine ministry, but with his wit and God’s favor, he managed to evade capture.
He desired to give his life for his faith, and finally, that day came. He was sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit: the attempted assassination of the president-elect. Instead of frightening the people as President Calles had hoped, the photos of his martyrdom motivated thousands to take to the streets and, with great courage, to bid him farewell and thank him for everything he had done for them, inspiring them to defend their faith at all costs.
Lesson of Faith
Father Miguel Agustín never took his eyes off Christ, neither in the moments of intense persecution nor in the face of imminent death. He understood deeply that this world is not our final destination and that the power of earthly rulers is fleeting. With his life, he taught us that our faith must be placed only in God, who guides us toward eternity.
Let us follow the great example of Blessed Miguel Agustín Pro, who proclaimed fearlessly with his entire life and at the hour of his death: “Viva Cristo Rey!” “Long live Christ the King!”
