10ar03c.gif (30468 byte) SPANISH MARTYRS
BEATIFIED
 ON 11th MARCH 2001

 "He was harshly treated, but unresisting and silent, he humbly submitted. Like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearer he did not open his mouth." (Is 53,7).
6 spanish martyrs

These words, hinting at Jesus' Passion, can be applied also to the sacrifices of those martyrs who freely gave their life for the faith.

     The Servants of God Alfonso López López and his 5 brethren of the Conventual Franciscan Order belong to this huge multitude.
     The Spanish civil war (1936-1939) didn't spare their convent, in the town of Granollers, in Barcelona district, where they lived at that time.
      In 1936, immediately after the military insurrection of the 19th July, the authors of political change rushed into the convent searching for weapons; they didn't find any, but they threatened the friars and threw them out of their house, compelling them to take refuge at their neighbours' and friends'. They could hide themselves only for one week. 
    In such a hostile and irreligious environment, the seed of terror and death threats against the Church and Her children, as it was in Spain at that time, these followers of St. Francis of Assisi were imprisoned and condemned to death, just because they were Christ's disciples. 
    They shed their blood with inner serenity and meekness, giving glory to God with the profession of faith and forgiving their enemies.

( from the Decree on the martyrdom )

  

    

Padre ALFONSO LÓPEZ LÓPEZ
Father ALFONSO LÓPEZ LÓPEZ

He was born at Secorún, in the dioceses of Jaca, on 16th November 1875. He held various civil offices, but he felt to be called to religious life, so he entered the convent of Granollers in 1906. He was sent to Italy, where he was received in the Seraphic Province of Umbria. He spent his novitiate at Osimo, pronouncing his temporary vows in 1908 and his perpetual profession in 1911, the same year of his priestly ordination. He was confessor in the Basilica of Loreto, then he returned to Granollers, where he carried out the task of teacher of the postulants and novices until 1935. He distinguished himself by his virtues, mainly by his love for God, for his neighbour and his devotion for the Virgin Mary. He was an excellent formator of the applicants for consecrated life that he mainly directed with the example of his virtuous life. 
At the outbreak of the civil war he took refuge at some of his friends'. He was arrested on 3rd August 1936, together with Friar Miguel Remón Salvador. Both of them showed themselves brave in the face of the request of apostasy. In the end, they were taken to Samalús and shot in the evening of the same day, while Father Alfonso repeated, with spirit of faith and charity, "Forgive them, My Lord".

 

 

 

 

Fra MIGUEL REMÓN SALVADOR
Friar MIGUEL REMÓN SALVADOR

He was born at Caudé, in the dioceses of Teruel, on 17th September 1907. Feeling called to religious life, in 1927 he entered the convent of Granollers, where he spent his novitiate under the guidance of his master Father Alfonso López López. He pronounced his temporary vows in 1928 and his perpetual profession in 1933. He was an amiable and peaceful friar: he carried out the tasks entrusted to him with great spirit of service. He was sent to Italy for two years, to perform some jobs in the Basilica of Loreto. He returned to Granollers in 1935. 
Because of the revolution, he hid himself in the house of some friends, where he was arrested on 3rd August 1936. That very evening he was shot, together with Father Alfonso López López, after saying: "We'll never repudiate those things that we professed".

  

 

 

Padre MODESTO VEGAS VEGAS
Father MODESTO VEGAS VEGAS

He was born on 24th February 1912, at La Serna, in the dioceses of León. He began the novitiate at Granollers and pronounced his temporary vows in 1929. He studied theology and philosophy at Osimo (Italy), where, in 1934, he made his perpetual profession and was ordained. He returned to Granollers (in 1934) and he practiced the ministry of preacher and confessor, standing out particularly in the fulfillment of God's will, in chastity, patience, humility, leading a life of devotion and apostleship. 
At the outbreak of the civil war he took refuge at his friends'. He wasn't afraid of being killed, on the contrary he longed for martyrdom for Christ's love. On 27th July 1936, he was captured and, after having openly confirmed to be a Franciscan and a priest, he was insulted and beaten; he was taken to the outskirts of Lliça, where he was shot.

 

 

 

 

Padre DIONISIO VICENTE RAMOS
Father DIONISIO VICENTE RAMOS

He was born on 9th October 1871, at Caudé, in the dioceses of Teruel. When he was 15 he entered the religious house of Montalto (Ascoli Piceno-Italy), because, at that time in Spain, there weren't any convents of the Order. In 1888, at San Miniato (Pisa), he pronounced his temporary vows and then, in the Seraphic seminary of Bagnoregio, he made his perpetual profession. He was ordained priest in 1894 in Rome, where he had attended the Superior studies, taking his doctorate in Theology. In the Order, he carried out various tasks: parish priest at Anzio, confessor in the Basilica of Loreto and, above all, professor in diocesan and Franciscan seminars. He returned to Granollers because of a serious illness of his eyes and he devoted himself mainly to the ministry of reconciliation. He was an ardent apostle and a man of faith, charity and humility. 
When the civil war broke out, he was well on in years and blind. On 19th July 1936, he took refuge at the hospital. On 31st July, he was arrested and shot, together with Friar Francisco Remón Játiva, in a place called "Tres Pins", near Granollers, showing such a faith as to arouse admiration even in his killers.

  

 

 

Fra FRANCISCO REMÓN JÁTIVA
Friar FRANCISCO REMÓN JÁTIVA

He was born on 22nd September 1890, at Caudé, in the dioceses of Teruel. He entered as a postulant the convent of Granollers. In 1906 he was sent to Italy: his destination was Assisi, where he pronounced his temporary vows in 1912 and his perpetual ones in 1916. He remained in Assisi as sacristan of the Basilica until 1935, when he returned to Granollers, where he was sacristan of the church and porter of the convent. He carried out these tasks with care, being an example for those who approached him. 
Because of the persecution, he took refuge at some friends'. While he was going to hide himself in another place, he was recognized by the revolutionaries, arrested and taken to the prison. They cruelly beat him, causing an internal hemorrhage, then they took him to the hospital, where he met Father Dionisio Vicente Ramos, who confessed him. On 31st July 1936, Friar Francisco and Father Dionisio were shot in a place called "Tres Pins.

 

  

 

 

Padre PEDRO RIVERA RIVERA
Father PEDRO RIVERA RIVERA

He was born on 3rd September 1912, at Villacreces, in the dioceses of León. He spent his novitiate at Granollers and pronounced his temporary vows in 1928. He was sent in Italy to attend theological studies and, in 1933, he made his perpetual profession in Rome. In 1935, he took his License in Theology and was ordained priest. He returned to Spain and, despite his young age, he was appointed superior of the Community of Granollers, because of his moral, spiritual and cultural qualities. He was a real disciple of St. Francis, full of love for the consecrated life, excellent superior, humble and kind toward his brethren, a peace-loving man, pious and devout, particularly toward the Blessed Sacrament and the Virgin Mary. 
Expelled from the convent by the revolutionaries, as with the other friars, he searched for shelter at some friends'. He was arrested on 25th July, 1936, and prepared himself for his imminent martyrdom going to confession to the parish priest of Llinás, telling him: "If I have the grace to be killed, I'll die crying: Viva Cristo Re! Long Live Christ the King!" On 27th July he was set free and went to Barcelona, but on 22nd August of the same year he was arrested again. He was shot probably in the last days of August, or the first days of September of 1936: everybody considered him a martyr.

  

 

      

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