Blessed Ceferino Giménez Malla
Catholic Romani man of Barbastro shot in 1936 for refusing to give up his rosary
- Rank
- Blessed
- Kind
- Martyr, Layperson
- Life
- 1861 – 1936
- Era
- 20th century
- Feast
- 2 August
- Countries
- Spain
Life story
Ceferino Giménez Malla, known as “El Pelé”, was probably born on 26 August 1861 into a Catholic Romani family. His birthplace is uncertain; many sources say Fraga in the province of Huesca, Spain. According to the Pontifical Council for Migrants, he lived like a nomad for about forty years and then settled in Barbastro.
He made his living trading animals. He married Teresa Jiménez Castro in a traditional Romani ceremony, and the couple took in her orphaned niece. In 1926 he joined the Franciscan Third Order, and from 1931 he took part in night adoration of the Eucharist.
In July 1936, during the Spanish Civil War, he was arrested after going out to defend a priest who was being dragged through the streets of Barbastro, and because he carried a rosary in his pocket. The sources say he was offered his freedom if he stopped praying the rosary, and he refused.
He was shot beside the wall of the Barbastro cemetery. The exact date is uncertain: a Vatican biography places it in the early morning of 8 August, while other studies give 2 or 9 August 1936. He is said to have died holding his rosary and crying “Long live Christ the King.” John Paul II beatified him on 4 May 1997; he was the first Romani to be beatified. He has not been canonised.
Works and witness
- Lived as a nomad for about forty years before settling in Barbastro
- Traded animals; took in his wife's orphaned niece
- Joined the Franciscan Third Order in 1926 and took part in night adoration from 1931
- Arrested in July 1936 after defending a priest; refused to stop praying the rosary
- Beatified on 4 May 1997
Patron of
Romani people
Saints from the same country
References
- Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants, 'Nomads: Sinti, Roma - Zefferino Giménez Malla', vatican.va
- L'Osservatore Romano biography (Spanish) 'Ceferino Giménez Malla, gitano español (1861-1936)', vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_19970504_gimenez-malla_sp.html
- Famvin: 'Feast of Blessed Ceferino Giménez Malla', famvin.org (feast on 2 August, shooting on 9 August)
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.