Cristero War Priest executed                                      http://www.hereodote.net

By Larry Peterson

On May 21, 2000, Pope John Paul II canonized 25 saints and martyrs who died in the  Cristero War in Mexico. Most of the newly canonized were Catholic priests. Six of the priests were members of the Knights of Columbus.

This is Part II which profiles some of these heroes and defenders of the faith who invariably shouted, “Vivo Cristo Rey,” (long live Christ the King) as the executioner’s bullets tore into them or the hangman’s noose crushed their throats.

• Saint Jenaro Sanchez Delgadillo:   On September 19, 1886, Julia Delgadillo gave birth to a baby boy, She and her husband, Cristobal Sanchez, were humble people and faithful Catholics and they were thrilled with the arrival of their new son.  They named him Jenaro.

Jenaro Sanchez was a fine student. After finishing his primary grades, he received a scholarship to the Archdiocesan Seminary at Guadalhara. He was ordained to the priesthood on August 20, 1911, and immediately began his priestly ministry. His primary focus quickly turned to care for the sick in his parish and teaching catechism to the children.

In 1923, with the bishop in exile in Texas, Father Sanchez became the vicar of the town of Tamazulita, He had been jailed once and released several days later for reading a letter from the archbishop which attacked the government for its anti-Catholic policies. However, Plutarco Calles had become president in 1924 and had taken an extremely hard stand against everything Catholic. The fact was, Calles hated the Catholic Church and all its members.

Public worship had been prohibited and strictly enforced under Calles. Father Sanchez and other priests had found places where they could celebrate Mass in secret. A family had given him and his mom and dad shelter in their home located outside the parish boundaries. He had no idea the authorities had been told of his whereabouts.

On January 17, 1927, he and five friends were arrested by the soldiers. When his friends saw the soldiers coming they told him to run and hide.  He refused. The soldiers let the others go but they had other plans for Father Jenaro Sanchez. They tied his hands behind him and dragged him to a nearby mango tree. Then, as they taunted and mocked him, they hung Father Sanchez murdering the man of God.

Saint Janero Sanchez Delgadillo, please pray for us.

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The Priest and the Laymen: These following four Cristeros went to their deaths together: Father Luis Batiz Sainz; Senor Manuel Morales; Senor David Roldan; and Senor Salvador Lara.

Saint Luiz Batiz Sainz: He was born in 1870, entered a minor seminary at the age of 12, and was ordained a priest in 1894. He devoted most of his time to catechesis, had a deep devotion for Eucharistic Adoration, and was a member of the Knights of Columbus; council 2367.

Saint Manuel Morales: He was born in 1898 in a small town called Mesillas. He entered the seminary but had to drop out to go to work to help support his poor family. He became a baker, married, and had three children. He was a member of the local Catholic Workers Union.

Saint David Roldan Lara: He was born on March 2, 1907. His dad, Pedro Roldan, died when David was just one year old. He entered a seminary but, like Manuel Morales, had to drop out to help support his struggling mom. He was an outspoken critic of the Calles government and was the vice- president of National League for the Defense of Religious Liberty. He was only 19.

Saint Salvador Lara Puente: He was born in 1905, and was tall and strong and a fine athlete. He became a miner to help support his widowed mother and was an outspoken critic of the secular government.

The four men listed above were jailed together. Father Luiz was older, and he became not only their spiritual father but also their temporal “father” providing the young men comfort as they all knew what was about to happen to them.

On August 15, 1926, all four were loaded into two cars and driven out to the nearby mountains. They took the prisoners out of the cars and told them they were guilty of conspiracy against the government.

They were directed to a spot where they were to be executed. Together they prayed and then began to walk toward the designated location. As they walked, they all cried out together, “Long live Christ the King and Our Lady of Guadalupe!”  Then they all were shot to death by firing squad.

We ask these martyred saints to pray for us all.

(Part III to follow)

copyright©Larry Peterson 2019