La sangre de los mártires
En la Guerra Cristera se dieron muchísimas muertes de muchos mexicanos que amaban a su patria , pero sobre todo amaban a Cristo Jesús, a María y a Dios Padre. Varios de esos mexicanos pertenecieron a la Asociación Católica de la Juventud Mexicana ( A.C.J.M. ) y hoy algunos serán hechos santos, el día 21 de Mayo del 2000. En esta parte 2 , veremos como se dieron tantas muertes en todo el país de varias personas y de varios acejotaemeros. Centenares de mexicanos seglares ofrecieron oblación en la cristiada: los que, sin ninguna ambición personal se lanzaron al campo, inermes casi, y a exponerse a sufrimientos atroces cotidianos y a una muerte fácilmente previsible, sólo por defender los derechos de Dios, realizaron la hazaña más gloriosa que podía realizarse. Otros muchos "votaron con sus vidas" sin haber tomado nunca las armas; pero su voto era evidentemente válido también, y se les discute aun menos que a los otros. A José Valencia Gallardo, de León y de la A.C.J.M., le arrancaron la lengua porque animaba a sus compañeros de martirio... Le cortaron la mano que había podido desprender de las ligaduras y señalaba al cielo. Y lo acribillaron a tiros y deshicieron el cráneo a culatazos. Nicolás Navarro, golpeado en la cara hasta quebrarle los dientes y hacer saltar sangre por los ojos: "¡Animo, compañeros, acuérdense de la causa que defendemos!" Apuñalado expira diciendo: "¡Sí, yo muero por Cristo, que no muere jamás! ¡Viva Cristo Rey!" Había, además, perdonado a sus verdugos, rasgo frecuentísimo en estos mexicanos testigos de Dios. Otros cinco jóvenes murieron con éstos. La osadía del Gobierno no perdonaba a nadie y por medio del Ejército mataron a muchas personas sin importar la clase social , rango religioso , edad o estado de salud , incluso hubo muchas muertes de niños. Muchos murieron con una gran valentía, con un gran entusiasmo , con gran amor a su Dios y a su Iglesia . En el grupo de Parras, destaca Antonio Acuña, 20 años que se yerguen ante los mercenarios que van a asesinarle: "Ustedes son soldados pagados. Son del mal gobierno, y van a disparar sus armas contra mí, que soy soldado de Cristo Rey". Eulogio Ortiz quería obligar al P. Mateo Correa, de Valparaíso, Zac., a que revelara la confesión de los cristeros a quienes iba a fusilar. "Puede Ud. fusilarme, pero no ignora que un sacerdote debe guardar el secreto de confesión. Estoy dispuesto a morir". Y muere con los otros. A un chiquillo de 13 años, preso por cristero, le proponen alistarse en el ejército, a cambio de la vida: "Primero muerto. Odio al gobierno perseguidor. Es mi enemigo. ¡ Fusílenme ! " Se llamaba José Sánchez del Río y era de Sahuayo. Por sus calles atravesó, a las once de la noche, vitoreando a Cristo Rey. La fosa estaba ya cavada. Deja un recado a su madre: "Que nos vemos en el cielo. ¡Viva Cristo Rey!" y es muerto de un tiro en la cabeza. Es también en Puebla , dónde la Guerra Cristera causa estragos . Uno de los primeros mártires, el comerciante poblano José García Farfán. En el aparador de su tienda había letreros subversivos: "Sólo Dios no muere ni morirá jamás. Cristo vive, Cristo reina, Cristo impera ¡Viva Cristo Rey!" El no arrancarlos fue su crimen. Al fusilarlo, el jefe del pelotón lo provocó: "¡A ver cómo mueren los católicos!" "Así", repuso el viejo, apretó un crucifijo contra el pecho y gritó: "¡Viva Cristo Rey!" El párroco de Chalchihuites, Zac., don Luis Batis, aprehendido con sus muchachos de la A.C.J.M., intercede por ellos: "Yo le doy mi vida. Disponga de ella; pero no les haga nada a estos jóvenes. Mire: este Manuel Morales es casado, tiene su esposa y sus tres hijos pequeñitos. Estos dos jóvenes son el sostén de sus familias. Tienen sus madres ancianas que no cuentan con más apoyo que ellos". Tercia Manuel Morales: "Mire, señor Cura, con gusto doy mi vida y se la entrego a Dios. El cuidará de mi esposa y de mis hijos. Que se haga la voluntad santísima de Dios". Los otros se llamaban David Roldán y Salvador Lara. Todos gritaron: ¡Viva Cristo Rey! Aquí en el carusel de fotos arriba, podemos observar a cristeros colgados a un lado de la vía férrea. Escenas de este tipo muestran la gran crueldad del Gobierno, donde más adelante, según se defendia la Soberanía Nacional. Este "votar" con vidas fue tan repetido, que el relato sólo puede ser tan monótono como el de los que votan 'con papeles sellados en la oficina municipal' "A veces hay colorido especial, como en la muerte de aquel Tomasito de la Mora, seminarista colimense, de la A.C.J.M. y de la Liga. Amenazado, no desistió de ayudar a los cristeros del Volcán. Lo dejaron escoger el árbol en que lo ahorcarían y tuvo el rasgo de humor de escoger uno bajo el cual había reposado Juárez, "para que ya no fuera lugar de maldición". El soldado le iba a echar el lazo, y el muchacho no lo dejó: "No me toque, desgraciado. Me mancha. Porque ustedes son soldados del diablo, y nosotros de Cristo Rey". Le preguntan su última voluntad: ante Dios tengo muchos asuntos que arreglar: primero, pedirle que quite la venda que ciega a ustedes; pedir por mis padres; pedir por la Iglesia y por la Patria. Nada pido por mí: Cristo tiene méritos adelantados para salvar a millones y sé que El me salvará porque soy de los suyos y muero por El. ¡Que viva Cristo Rey y Santa María de Guadalupe!". Con el Padre Miguel Agustín Pro cayó su hermano Humberto, íntegro muchacho, dedicado en cuerpo y alma a la propaganda religiosa. El Padre Pro impartía su ayuda ministerial confesando en una banca del Paseo de la Reforma, predicando a choferes y albañiles, proveyendo despensas de familias caídas en la miseria por causa de la persecución. Tras ellos rodó Luis Segura Vilchis, él sí complicado en el fallido intento de la bomba contra Obregón. Tenía preparada admirablemente la coartada, y por testigo nada menos que al propio Obregón, al que se atrevió a acercarse y a hablar, en los toros. Se entregó para salvar a los Pro, que él sabía inocentes. No los salvó ni se salvó, porque la felonía no cumplió su palabra. Así que él murió, no por dinamitero, sino por la caridad para con sus hermanos. Y murió, como las mismas fotografías lo muestran, sereno, erguido, confiando únicamente en Cristo. Duerme en el Tepeyac ¡a unos 6 metros de don Antonio López de Santa Anna! Juan Bonilla Manzano, joven impresor, acejotaemeros de Tlalpan, de la Adoración Nocturna y de la Liga, fue de aquellos soldados improvisados del grupo del Ajusco, faltos de todo, salvo de desinterés absoluto. Lo cogieron por traición de un hacendado (de San Diego de Linares, Méx.) y fue fusilado con los brazos en cruz, precisamente a las tres de la tarde del Viernes Santo de 1927 (15 de abril), en el Monte de las Cruces. De él, como de pocos mártires, quedaron relativamente abundantes escritos del fin (su diario, cartas a su madre y a su novia). En el carusel de fotos arriba, vemos el fusilamiento del sacerdote Agustín Pro Juárez el 23 de Noviembre de 1927 Observemos que fueron muchas muertes , todas se dieron se manera diferente y en circunstancias diferentes, varias de estas fueron muy tristes y lamentables , pero siempre con el consuelo de la vida eterna que Dios dá, a los que mueren por El. Porque las mujeres no se quedaban atrás, aunque no todas se alistaran en los Batallones de Santa Juana de Arco para abastecer a los cristeros, correr el albur de burlar a los de Calles o ser burladas y destrozadas por ellos. Pero dondequiera florecía el heroísmo... La madre de Valencia Gallardo, al recibir los restos de su hijo, le besa los pies y se vuelve a la Virgen: "¡Mártir! ¡Gracias, Madre mía! Era tuyo". Y aquella otra, ante su muchacho, al que azotaban porque repartía hojas del boicot, y querían hacerle revelar nombres: "¡No digas, hijo!". María de la Luz Camacho se pone su traje mejor (de seda verde) para ir a ser acribillada por las balas de los camisas rojas de Garrido Canabal, en Coyoacán... Aquella profesorcita, Éster Alvarez, asesinada en Tajimaroa, por llevar a sus alumnas al templo... En un triste capítulo tienen que ser escasas las páginas escritas por los mexicanos que usaron sangre por tinta, o que por lo menos estaban en disposición generosa para derramarla. Sus hermanos y sus hijos viven y alternamos con ellos. Viven los mismos ideales que aquéllos y se esfuerzan por no revolverse, ya que deben crecer juntos con los ramos degenerados de la estirpe. Agradecemos al Pbro. Ignacio González Molina por su ayuda en la creación de la Parte 2. Te recordamos que si tienes más datos puedes escribirnos y contactarnos vía email : [email protected] .! Gracias ! |
The blood of martyrs
The Cristera War saw the death of many Mexicans who loved not only their Country but loved Jesus Christ, Mary and God the Father even more. Several of these people belonged to the Catholic Association of Mexican Youth. (A.C.J.M.) and today, May 21, 2000, some will be named saints. In part 2 we’ll see how many people and Acejotaemeros died throughout the country. Despite exposing themselves to atrocious daily suffering and certain death, hundreds of secular Mexicans contributed to the Cristera effort. Many did so without any personal ambition except for the desire to defend the rights of God and by doing so carried out a most glorious deed. Many others vowed their lives without ever taking up arms; their vow was evidently valid even though very little is ever mentioned of them. José Valencia Gallardo, an Acejotaemero from León, had his tongue cut out for shouting words of encouragement to his companions as they were being killed. When he was able to free one of his tied hands and pointed to the sky, his hand was cut off. Finally they riddled him with bullets and smashed his skill with blows from the butts of their rifles. Nicolás Navarro was beaten in the face until his teeth were broken and blood flowed from through his eyes. “Courage, my friends, remember the cause that we are defending!” Stabbed, he died saying “Yes, I’ll day for Christ who will never die! Long Live Christ the King!” He had forgiven his assassins, a frequent act of many of the Mexican witness for God. Five other young men died with them that day. The government’s boldness was not forgiving and the army indiscriminately killed many people without regard to their social class, religious status, age or health including many children. Many died bravely, with enthusiasm and a great love for their God and their Church. A twenty year old named Antonio Acuña stands out in the group from Parras. With head raised and standing erect before the mercenaries that are about to kill him he says, ¨You are paid soldiers, You’re from a bad government and you’re going to fire your arms against me, a soldier for Christ the King.” Eulogio Ortiz, tried to force Father Mateo Correa from Valparaiso, Zac to reveal the confessions of the cristeros who he was going to shoot. “You can shoot me but don’t pretend to not know that a priest must maintain the secrecy of confession. I am willing to die.” He died with the others. A 13 year old boy who was taken prisoner because he was a cristero was offered the chance to enlist in the army in exchange for his life. “I’d rather be dead. I hate this persecuting government. It’s my enemy. Shoot me!” His name was José Sánchez del Río and he was from Sahuayo. At eleven o’clock at night he walked through the streets acclaiming Christ the King. The hole was already dug. He leaves a message for his mother: “I’ll see you in Heaven. Long Live Christ the King!” and is killed with a shot to the head. In Puebla also, the Cristera War is causing chaos and destruction. One of the first martyrs was a businessman from Puebla, José Gacía Farfán. He had in his store window, some subversive signs: “Only God doesn’t die, nor will he ever. Christ lives, Chirst reigns, Christ rules. Long Live Christ the King!” His crime was not removing them from the window. When he was about to shoot him, the captain of the firing squad dared him by saying, “Let’s see how Catholics die!” The old man replied “Like this”, squeezing the crucifix to his chest he shouted “Long Live Christ the King!”. Don Luis Batis, the parish priest from Chalchihuites, Zacatecas, who was aprehended with this youth group from the A.C.J.M. interceded for them imploring: “I’ll give you my life. Do what you will with it; but don’t do anything to these young men. Look, Manuel Morales is married, he had a wife and three small children. These two boys are who maintain their families. They have two elderly mothers who don’t have anyone to help them. Manuel Morales intervenes: “Look Father, I’ll gladly give my life, I offer it to God. He will take care of my wife and my children. God’s will be done”. The names of the other boys were David Roldán and Salvador Lara. They all shouted: “Long Live Christ the King!” Here in slideshow we can see cristeros hanging on the side of the railroad tracks. Scenes like this show the cruelty of the Government that later declared they were defending National Sovereignty. This “vow” of giving up your life was so repeated that it is as monotonous as those who make an oath on officially stamped documents in municipal offices. At times there is a special attraction such as the death of Tomasito de la Mora, a seminarian from Colima, a member of the A.C.J. M. and The League. Even after being threatened he did not give up helping the Cristeros in Volcán. They allowed him to choose the tree from which they were going to hang him and he kept his sense of humor by choosing the one that Juáerz was resting against, “so it would be a place of damnation”. The soldier was going to put the rope around him but the young man would not him: “Don’t touch me you despicable wretch. You’ll get me dirty. You are soldiers for the devil, and we’re for Christ the King.” They ask him for his last wish; As God as my witness, I have a lot of things to put in order: first I pray the He will remove the blindfold from your eyes; I pray for my parents; for the Church and for the Country. I don’t ask anything for myself: Christ has plans in progress to save millions and I know that He will save me because I am one of His and I’d die for Him. Long Live Christ the King and Holy Mary of Guadalupe.”. When Father Miguel Agustín Pro fell into the hands of the government, so too did his brother Humberto, an honest lad dedicated in body and soul to spreading religious propaganda. Father Pro shared his pastoral help by hearing confessions on a bench on Paseo de la Reforma, preaching to drivers and stone masons, giving out provisions to families that had fallen into misery because of the persecution. Luis Segura Vilchis was taken down right after them. He was involved in the falled bombing attempt against Obregón. He had a very clever alibi prepared and corroborated by Obregón himself since Vilchis approached Obregón to talk with him at the bull ring. Vilchis turned himself in to save the Pro brothers since he knew that they were innocent. Unfortunately because of disloyalty, he wasn’t able to save them or himself. Thus, he didn’t die for being a bomber, but rather because of the charity he showed for his fellow man. He died just as photographs portray him, serene and erect trusting only in Christ. He was laid to rest at Tepeyac….just 6 meters from Antonio López de Santa Ana! Juan Bonilla Manzano was another soldier for Christ. He was a young printer, an member of the ACJM in Tlalpan, a member of Nightly Adoration and of the League. He was one of those volunteer soldiers from Ajusco that lacked everything that a soldier needs except an absolute disinterest. The betrayal of a landowner from San Diego de Linares, México lead to his capture. He was shot with his arms outstretched like a cross exactly at 3 o’clock in the afternoon on Good Friday, April 15, 1927 at the Hill of the Crosses. There is a fair amount of information written about the end of his life and of a few other martyrs that was gathered from various sources; his diary, letters to his mother and to his girlfriend. We see in the slideshow above the execution of Father Agustín Pro Juárez, on November 23, 1927 We can see that there were many deaths, all carried out in different ways and in different circumstances, some extremely lamentable but with the consolation of eternal life that God gives to those who die for Him. Women did not hold back either even though not all joined the Battalions of St. Joan of Arc to provide supplies to the cristeros, run the risk of thwarting Calles’ forces or of being thwarted by them. Heroism flourished everywhere. When the mother of Valencia Gallardo received the dead body of her son, she kissed his feet, turned to the Virgin: Martyr! Thank you Oh Mother! He was yours! And yet another mother whose son was being whipped in front of her for distributing boycott flyers told her son “Don’t say anything son!” as his tormentors tried to get him to name names. María de la Luz Camacho wears her finest dress of green silk to her execution by firing squad by the Red Shirts of Garrido Canabal in Coyoacán…..the teacher Ester Alvarez who was assassinated in Tajimaroa for taking her students to church….. For such a sad chapter, it is unfortunate that there were only a few that were willing to spill their blood and write those pages of history with it. Their brothers and sons live today and we interact with them. They live the same ideals as those before them and they strive not to turn back since they must grow up, joined with that part of their ancestry. We thank Father Ignacio González Molina for his help in putting together Part 2. We remind you that if you have any additional information, you can write to us via email: [email protected] Thank you! |