Homily: May 21 - St. Christopher Magallanes and companion martyrs - For the greater glory!

For 150 years, anti-Catholic laws in Mexico made it dangerous to publicly practice the faith.  Churches, schools, and seminaries were closed; foreign clergy and missionaries were expelled.  The government intentionally wanted to weaken the Catholic faith of the people.  Today, we honor 25 martyrs who died between 1915 and 1937.  22 of them were diocesan priests, 3 were laymen. 

Among them was Fr. Christopher Magallanes.  Born in 1869 near Guadalajara.  He worked in the fields before entering the seminary, and following his ordination he worked in his home town organizing catechetical centers and schools in the rural area, helping the poor develop, and encouraging devotion to the rosary.

When the government closed the seminary in Guadalajara, Father Christopher established a clandestine one in his parish.  This was between 1924 and 1928 which was a particularly brutal period of religious oppression which sparked the formation of the Cristero movement, its members pledging their allegiance to Christ and the Church whatever the dangers.  During that period the government made it illegal to be Baptized and for priests to celebrate Mass. 

For Father Christopher, the end came in 1927 when he was arrested and faced the firing squad. His last words to his executioners were "I die innocent, and ask God that my blood may serve to unite my Mexican brethren."

At the canonization of the mexican martyrs in 2000, Saint John Paul II praised them for witnessing their faith and explicitly forgiving their persecutors.  The Pope said, “May the shining example of Christopher Magallanes and his companion martyrs help you to make a renewed commitment of fidelity to God, which can continue to transform society so that justice, fraternity and harmony will prevail among all.”

Many of us have never heard of Saint Christopher Magallanes and his martyred companions: his feast was added to the Roman Missal upon its revision.  Yet they are an example to the whole Church of great courage—that Christians must have courage to keep the faith in times of trial, whether that trial comes from one’s government, one’s family, or daily temptations. 

May St. Christopher Magallanes and his martyr companions help us to have increased courage and faith for the glory of God and salvation of souls.