From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
November 23rd - Bl. Miguel Pro, SJ
d. 1927
For generations, Catholic Mexico has been saddled with anti-Catholic governments. The constitution of 1917 denied the Church property,
forbade religious instruction, and branded priests as public enemies.
At first these laws, designed to crush Catholicism, were not
systematically applied, but President Plutarco Calles (1924-1928) set
out enforcing them with a vengeance. The Calles persecution struck
down 5,000 Catholic victims! Standard-bearer of these victims was the
heroic Mexican Jesuit Father Miguel Augustin Pro Juarez.
Miguel, born on January 13, 1891, was one of the seven children of the prominent and devout Mexican, Miguel Pro, Sr. and Josefa Juarez. He
was a happy-go-lucky lad, a good musician and a born actor. Though a
bit careless religiously in his teens, he joined the Jesuits at 20.
Knowing that he was a prankster, his superiors sought to discover
whether he could accept, as well as play, practical jokes. They found
that he could.
By 1917, governmental pressure on religious orders made it necessary
for Miguel Pro to continue his studies outside Mexico. Fleeing the
country in disguise, he received his education in California, Spain,
and Belgium. It was in Belgium that he was ordained a priest (1925).
By the time of his ordination, Fr. Pro was experiencing serious
stomach trouble. In 1926, his superiors reassigned him to Mexico,
thinking his health might improve at home. Unwittingly, they were
sending him to his death. A few days after his arrival, the Mexican
government put an end to Catholic worship and ordered the arrest on
sight of any priest.
Pro's apostolate was therefore a secret one. Despite his poor healt=
h,
he threw himself cheerfully into the work, using every handy device to
outwit the police. In various disguises, he would breeze by them on
foot or on a bicycle, bound for his =E2=80=9CEucharistic centers=E2=80=9D w= here he
would offer Mass, administer the sacraments, and assist the poor. Once
when some police were bearing down on him, he grabbed the arm of a
girl. =E2=80=9CI am a priest,=E2=80=9D he said. =E2=80=9CHelp me!=E2=80=9D = She agreed, and the couple
sauntered along the street arm-in-arm while the constables sped by.
Luck ran out after a year. Early in November, 1927, Pro told a nun
that God had accepted the offer of his life to save Mexico. On
November 13, an unsuccessful attempt was made on the life of
President-elect Obregon. On vague suspicion, the police arrested
Miguel and two of his brothers. There was no proof of their having
been the conspirators, but Calles was determined to make an example of
these advocates of Catholic freedom, especially the priest. They were
sentenced to death without a trial.
Before the execution took place on November 23, Father Miguel
expressed his forgiveness to his captors and executioners. As the
firing squad took aim, he threw out his arms in a cross and cried, =E2=80=9CLong live Christ the King!=E2=80=9D
Mexican Catholics were not cowed by this judicial murder; rather, they
hailed the victims as heroes and martyrs. A blind woman who touched
the Jesuit's coffin regained her sight.
When Pope John Paul II beatified Father Pro on September 25,1988, he
praised his =E2=80=9Ccontagious joy=E2=80=9D. The martyred Mexican priest h=
ad indeed
given hope to his people.
=E2=80=93Father Robert
Bible Quote:
And the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into
heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God.=C2 But they going forth
preached every where: the Lord working withal, and confirming the word
with signs that followed.=C2 (Mark 16:19-20) DRB
<><><><>
"Measure"
Count your garden by the flowers
Never by the leaves that fall;
Count your days by golden hours
Don't remember clouds at all,
Count your nights by stars, not shadows,
Count your life by smiles, not tears;
And with joy on every birthday
count your age by friends, not years.
=C2 By Dixie Wilson
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)