Saint José Sánchez del Río

Life story

José Luis Sánchez del Río was born on 28 March 1913 in Sahuayo, in the state of Michoacán, Mexico. The Cristero War broke out in 1926 when the government tightened laws restricting religious life, and armed Catholic groups rose in revolt. The boy asked to join a band of rebels; he was at first refused as too young, but was finally accepted as the troop's flag-bearer and helper.

On 25 January 1928, after heavy fighting, government troops captured José. He was held in Sahuayo, in the town's own church, which the army was using as a prison. According to the accounts, his captors demanded that he renounce his faith and he refused. His family was told to pay a ransom, but he was executed before the money could arrive.

José was killed on 10 February 1928 in Sahuayo at the age of fourteen. Reports hand down that he was mistreated before his death, but the specific details rest mainly on witness testimony and the beatification records. Pope John Paul II declared him venerable on 22 June 2004. He was beatified on 20 November 2005 in Guadalajara. After a miracle was approved on 21 January 2016, Pope Francis canonised him on 16 October 2016. His feast day is 10 February.

Works and witness

• Joined the Cristero rebels as a boy and carried the troop's flag
• Captured on 25 January 1928 and held in Sahuayo
• According to accounts, refused to renounce his faith
• Executed on 10 February 1928 aged fourteen
• Beatified in 2005 and canonised on 16 October 2016

Saints from the same country

Saint Juan Diego, Blessed Miguel Pro, The 25 Martyrs of Mexico, Saints Child Martyrs of Tlaxcala

References

• Martyrologium Romanum (10 February)
• Dicastery for the Causes of Saints: decrees and biography of José Sánchez del Río
• 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.