The 25 Martyrs of Mexico

Life story

The group numbers 25: 22 priests, among them Father Cristóbal Magallanes Jara, and three lay people. They did not die together but were killed one by one in the early twentieth century, nearly all between 1926 and 1928, in eight Mexican states, most of them in Jalisco and Zacatecas. Most died while the government was enforcing anti-Church laws, especially during and after the Cristero War (1926 to 1929).

Cristóbal Magallanes Jara was born in 1869 in Totatiche, in Jalisco, and served as a priest in that region. He founded schools and workshops and worked to improve the life of the indigenous Huichol people. According to the accounts, he preached against armed violence. On 21 May 1927 he was arrested on his way to say Mass at a farm, and four days later, on 25 May, he was shot at Colotlán without a trial.

Killed with him was a young priest, Agustín Caloca Cortés, born in 1898. According to the accounts, Caloca was offered release because of his youth but refused unless his teacher was freed too. The three laymen in the group, David, Manuel and Salvador, were killed with their parish priest, Father Luis Batis. Pope John Paul II beatified Cristóbal Magallanes on 22 November 1992 and canonised the whole group on 21 May 2000. Their feast day is 21 May.

Works and witness

• Father Cristóbal Magallanes founded schools and workshops in Totatiche
• Arrested on 21 May 1927 and shot at Colotlán on 25 May
• Father Agustín Caloca was killed with him
• Three laymen, David, Manuel and Salvador, died with their parish priest
• Canonised on 21 May 2000

Saints from the same country

Saint Juan Diego, Blessed Miguel Pro, Saint José Sánchez del Río, Saints Child Martyrs of Tlaxcala

References

• Martyrologium Romanum (21 May)
• Dicastery for the Causes of Saints: canonisation records, 21 May 2000
• Jean Meyer, The Cristero Rebellion: The Mexican People Between Church and State, 1926-1929 (Cambridge University Press, 1976)

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.