Relics at the Los Angeles Cathedral

The following comes from a May 11 posting on the Los Angeles archdiocese website.

Relics of six priests martyred during the Mexican Cristero War of the 1920s, and canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2000, will visit Los Angeles next week as part of a pilgrimage coordinated by the Knights of Columbus.

The relics will be on display Monday afternoon, May 14 through Thursday, May 24 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, 555 W. Temple Street, Los Angeles.

The feast day of the Mexican Martyrs is May 21st. 

The six priests – Fathers Jose Maria Robles Hurtado, Pedro de Jesus Maldonado Lucero, Miguel de la Mora de la Mora, Luis Batiz Sainz, Rodrigo Aguilar Alemán, and Mateo Correa Magallanes – were all martyred for their faith by the Mexican government during the religious persecution in Mexico in the early 20th century.

The martyrdom of Father Jose Maria Robles Hurtado is depicted in the film 
For Greater Glory being released nationwide June 1, 2012.

“The Mexican martyrs help us to understand the value of living our faith in our daily lives,” said Archbishop José Gomez. “They were priests and lay people called to defend their faith, and the right to practice that faith. It is a great blessing to have the relics of these six saints with us in Los Angeles, especially for the Feast Day of the Mexican Martyrs. Their sacrifice serves as an example of the importance of religious liberty.”

“For many years, this period of history has been all but forgotten on both sides of the border,” said Carl Anderson, Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus. “This year, with the release of both a major motion picture and a book on this subject, the story of the struggle for religious freedom in Mexico will begin to be told.

“It is our hope that the pilgrimage of these relics will remind us all of the sacrifices made on behalf of religious liberty on this continent less than 100 years ago. It is a timely reminder that – from Ancient Rome to 1920s Mexico to today – persecution does not stifle the faith, but emboldens it.”

The relics have already visited Houston, Chicago, New York, Tucson and Phoenix and will also travel to Miami and San Antonio.

To see entire web posting, Click here.

 

READER COMMENTS

Posted Tuesday, May 15, 2012 12:42 AM By Kenneth M. Fisher
Up until now, I have avoided going back to the RogMahal, but the meeting of Fr. Aloysius’s supporters and the visit of these Mexican Martyr Saints will finally get me to go back, but other than for the stated reasons, I dread going back there. God bless, yours in Their Hearts, Kenneth M. Fisher

Posted Tuesday, May 15, 2012 6:56 AM By Sue in soCal
Let’s ask these saints for guidance as we go to the ballot box. Viva Cristo Rey!

Posted Tuesday, May 15, 2012 7:25 AM By Prof.Helen
A timely reminder to encourage the faithful because it is coming to a country near you – the USA.

Posted Tuesday, May 15, 2012 8:09 AM By mj
Do you know why Mateo Correa Magallanes is not mentioned as St. Christopher Magallanes?

Posted Tuesday, May 15, 2012 10:25 AM By Felice
I didn’t know these relics were touring (just in time for the movie release)….I hope we find time to be present at this LA event, and witness to hope for our times. Santos Martires pray for us. Viva Cristo Rey.

Posted Tuesday, May 15, 2012 12:23 PM By Kevin Pius
Originally beatified on Nov. 22, 1992 by Pope John Paul II, these 25 Mexican martyrs, including priests, seminarians, and laity were canonized by His Holiness in the Jubilee Year of 2000. The cost in blood of promoting the cause of these Mexican saints is not commonly acknowledged. His Eminence, Cardinal Juan Jesus Posadas was assassinated within a year of the beatifications on May 26, 1993. And the recently retired archbishop of Guadalajara, Cardinal Juan Sandoval was maliciously poisoned, though his life was saved though emergency surgery. During the Holy Year 2000 the Catholic Church was falsely accused of using the canonization of these Mexican Martyrs to politically influence the Mexican elections. This is when the “interconstitutional commission” comprising representatives of the federal and state governments and the Catholic Church determined that the killing of Cardinal Juan Jesus Posadas of Guadalajara, Jalisco on May 26, 1993 was not accidental. I hope that the upcoming film “Cristiada” will remind us of the true cost of our Faith. Let us ask these Mexican martyrs to intercede for us before God. Long live Christ the King!

Posted Tuesday, May 15, 2012 2:02 PM By Tracy
I praise God that the relics of these martyrs will be here in Los Angeles. We are in dire need of their powerful intercession with our Lord. We also need to be reminded of and encouraged by their heroic sacrifice. By the way, I recently saw the play “Viva Cristo Rey” and found the parallels to what is unfolding in our own country to be very sobering.

Posted Tuesday, May 15, 2012 4:35 PM By Kenneth M. Fisher
I read that when Blessed Miguel Pro, S.J. was about to be martyred, the man who was responsible for his capture went to him and begged his forgiveness. Blessed Miguel told him “why do I need to forgive you, I THANK YOU. You have given me my path to Eternal Life! Viva Cristo Rey! God bless, yours in Their Hearts, Kenneth M. Fisher

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 7:00 AM By Fr. G
@ mj, St. Mateo Correa Magallanes and St. Christopher Magallanes are two different saints who share the same last name.

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 11:44 AM By Angelo
How I wish for the Relics of these great men would take a tour throughout all California. It would bring so many Graces to everyone.

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 9:33 PM By Kenneth M. Fisher
Angelo, The bones of the Martyrs in themselves do not bring Graces. It is the faith of those who venerate the relics that brings many Graces. Viva Cristo Rey! God bless, yours in Their Hearts, Kenneth M. Fisher

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 10:17 PM By Abeca Christian
Thank you Mr Fisher for that correction, you read my mind. But I didn’t post it because Angelo will take it personally and dislike me more.

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 10:28 AM By Kenneth M. Fisher
Abeca, 10:17 PM, You should not worry about individuals taking your comments and disliking you. If I did that, I would never post on this site. Do as God bids you, and don’t worry about those who will take it against you. God bless, yours in Their Hearts, Kenneth M. Fisher

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 6:20 PM By Maryanne Leonard
Kenneth, I have to agree with you there, but I think it might be harder for some of us women to stand up for what we believe in as we are taught not to give offense, to be kind, to be nurturers and comforters of others in distress. To be in error is usually to be in distress, and we women are taught to help others see the light, but to do so kindly. It’s hard to try to do that and then be chastised, criticized, insulted and rejected by those we’ve tried to reach out to, especially if we are standing up for traditional Christian values. In this day and time, unfortunately so much has turned upside down in the world that to stand up for traditional Christian values is tantamount to being condemned for crimes of the heart, including hatred of others, racism, parochialism, etc., etc., and of course to be insulted, condemned, rejected, ridiculed and otherwise discarded as unworthy of respect or even additional intellectual exchange. Abeca Christian expresses a great love for traditional Christian values and is such is a fellow target, along with all of us faithful Catholics, for both trolls and the faithful but misguided souls we often read on this website (which merely reflects the realities of modern human society, sad to say, as so many are so poorly catechized or wish to interpret Catholic teachings to suit their personal sins of choice). A caring Catholic is often a loving Catholic (though not always, I realize) as well as a sensitive soul who may or may not be strong enough to withstand some of the invective one can readily experience on this site. It takes something more powerful than a quiet, personal conviction to stand up for that which one perceives as right and then prepare for the slings and arrows of the angry, the misguided, and the lost. When we women stand up for what we believe in, we are often attacked as enemies of the (lost) people, not for our ideas, but on a painfully personal level. It takes real courage to be a woman who stands up for God.

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 6:38 PM By Angelo
Kenneth M. Fisher, People must have alot of faith as the relics of the Saints have brought about many miracles. In Scripture a dead man was placed on the bones of a prophet, the man came back to life. Those who placed his body on his relics did not ask for any such miracle, God granted it to their surprise. St. Peters handkerchief according to scripture wrought many miracles. Recently it was reported that a mother placed the book “Fatima in Lucias own words” upon her dying child. The child immediatly was totaly cured. This miracle will be investigated by Rome for the process of Sister Lucia’s canonization. A few months back I suffered from grave doubts and was much disturbed. I obtained a Third Class relic of St. Brother Andre. Upon kissig it all doubts and disturbance dissapeared and I had a great peace. There are myriads of stories of miracles wrought by the Relics of Saints.

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 6:46 PM By Angelo
Abeca Christian, Please remember that it was not I who got angry with you. Because I defended someone else, here on calcathdaily, you went into a frinzy. I even asked you why you would become angry because I defended someone else. You did not reply. Abeca, in Christs Charity I ask that you not now make yourself out to be the victim. God Bless.

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 9:49 PM By Abeca Christian
Mr. Fisher I agree. : ) Thank you

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 11:01 PM By JLS
Praying the Rosary is also a miracle, Angelo.

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 11:06 PM By JLS
Ahem, when St Peter’s shadow passed over someone, they were healed regardless of their belief. The healing initiated their belief, not the other way around. Dead people raised to life by Jesus or a Prophet are raised not by their faith but by Jesus or the Prophet. The Centurion’s daughter was distant from the act of faith made by her father, when Jesus cured her or gave her life back (no time to check the specifics now). God loved us before we loved Him. God made many miracles in an effort to help the Israelites to believe.

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 11:09 PM By Kenneth M. Fisher
Mary Ann Leonard, I strongly recommend reading about and praying to St. Catherine of Sienna. She knows what is like for a woman to speak up! God bless, yours in Their Hearts, Kenneth M. Fisher

Posted Friday, May 18, 2012 9:53 AM By Angelo
JLS, Two great posts. I found the Holy Rosary to be extremely miraculous. When I pray for everyone its through the Mass, the Rosary and the Chaplet of the divine Mercy. Your second post was an eyeopener, Its so true “God loved us before we loved him.” Recently I read of the prayer of “Attente” where we Pray and just do God’s will in all things, and let him take care of the rest. Though I have read Christ saying this many times somehow it did’nt click until I read that this type of prayer in Latin is called “Attente”. What you reminded us of goes right along with it “God loved us before we loved him.” Thanks.