Bl. Martyrs of the Spanish Civil War
Martyrs of the Religious Persecution in Spain, 1934–1939
Feast Day: November 6
Biography
In the years 1934 and 1936–1939, during the revolutionary violence in Asturias and the Spanish Civil War, thousands of Catholics in Spain were killed because of their faith. Historians count nearly 7,000 bishops, priests, seminarians, and men and women religious among the dead, along with many lay people. The Church honors as martyrs those who, according to careful investigation, were put to death out of hatred for the faith and accepted death with faith and forgiveness. The Church's recognition of these martyrs is not a judgment on the political sides of the war; it honors their witness to Christ. Beatifications began under Pope St. John Paul II in 1987. On October 28, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI's representative beatified 498 martyrs in Rome, the largest single beatification in the Church's history, and on October 13, 2013, 522 more were beatified at Tarragona. By the mid-2020s more than 2,000 had been beatified, and eleven, including the Martyrs of Turón and St. Pedro Poveda, founder of the Teresian Association, had been canonized. Among the blessed are Anselmo Polanco, bishop of Teruel; Ceferino Giménez Malla, a Romani layman arrested for defending a priest and praying the Rosary; and Bartolomé Blanco Márquez, a young catechist who wrote words of forgiveness before his death. In Spain their common memorial is kept on November 6.
Patronages
Symbols
Prayer
Blessed martyrs of Spain, you remained faithful to Christ in a time of violence and died forgiving those who took your lives. Pray for all who suffer for their faith today. Heal the wounds of division in our families, our communities, and our nations, and teach me to answer hatred with love and to pray for those who oppose me. Amen.
Asking for Intercession
Catholics ask saints to pray with us and for us, as we ask friends on earth. Bl. Martyrs of the Spanish Civil War, who lives in God's presence, intercedes before His throne. Speak from your heart: “Bl. Martyrs of the Spanish Civil War, please pray for me…” You may also pray the prayer above or include this intention in your Rosary.