The Memorial of Saint Cristóbal Magallanes and companions

Today the Church keeps memory of Saint Cristóbal Magallanes and his companions, 24 other Mexican martyrs who died for their faith during the period of 1915-1937, a time when Mexico was rocked by intense religious persecution at the hands of the government.

Cristóbal (the equivalent of Christopher in English) was born to a farm family in 1869. He entered the seminary at the age of 19 and after his ordination served as a parish priest at Totatiche, Mexico. His priestly ministry was varied, as he helped to found schools and a newspaper, as well as starting catechism programs for both children and adults. He also worked with the indigenous people to form agrarian co-ops with the townspeople. Father Cristóbal was known for having a great devotion to Our Lady.

When the anti-Church government closed all seminaries in Mexico, Father Cristóbal gathered together the displaced seminarians and started his own seminary. The government swiftly suppressed it, so he simply formed another, and another, and after they were all closed, the seminarians continued conducting classes in private homes.

Father Cristóbal wrote and preached against armed rebellion, but he was falsley accused of promoting a guerilla revolt. He was arrested on May 21, 1927 while on his way to celebrate Mass at a farm. Father Cristóbal gave away his few remaining possessions to his executioners and also gave them absolution. He was sentenced to death without a trial and was shot to death, along with Saint Agustin Caloca.

Father Cristóbal's final words just before his executioners shot him were, "I am innocent and I die innocent. I forgive with all my heart those responsible for my death, and I ask God that the shedding of my blood serves toward the peace of our divided Mexico." He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on November 22, 1992, and was canonized (along with 26 other Mexican saints, two of whom were not martyrs) on May 21, 2000, during the Jubilee of Mexico.

The 24 other martyrs canonized along with Saint Cristóbal, whose memory we keep along with him today, were not killed as a group. They represent martyrs in eight different Mexican states over a period of years. Most of the martyrs were priests, but three of them were laymen who chose death rather than renounce their faith in Christ.

Saint Cristóbal, ora pro nobis.