21 January
Saint Agnes
1952, First Marist Brothers foundation opened in Rwanda
1996, Brother Basilio Rueda, Superior General 1967-85, died in Guadalajara, Mexico
12/08/2013: General House
Sixty-eight Marists who were martyred in Spain – 66 brothers and 2 laymen – will be beatified in Tarragona, Spain, on October 13. These Marists are part of the canonization cause known as Brother Crisanto and 67 fellow martyrs. In 2007, were beatified 47 brothers from other two different causes: Brother Bernardo, murdered in October 6, 1934, and Brothers Laurentino, Virgilio and 44 fellow martyrs, who were killed on October 8, 1936 (see more).
There is another group of martyrs whose cause is underway: Brother Eugenio, his 58 companions, and Brother Lycarion. These brothers were murdered in different places and dates, between 1936 and 1938. One of them, Brother Sixto José, was not murdered, but tortured and sent to forced labor, dying in hospital some time later. Brother Lycarion, murdered on July 27, 1909, in Pueblo Nuevo, Barcelona, has been added to the group. The hope is that this cause will follow its way so that these Brothers can also be acknowledged by the Church as martyrs.
As Brother Emili stated in his letter on the feast of Champagnat this year, today the Marist martyrs, “inspired by Mary, disciples of Champagnat, challenge us, we who live at the dawn of the XXI century. It is true that their memory remains distant in time, and that we do not perhaps understand too well the processes of beatification and canonization, but in truth they surprise us with a message that is entirely relevant today”.
Against this background of 175 martyred Marists, who witnessed their faith in Christ by giving their own lives, we can only thank God for his faithfulness and strength which lead us to trust Him, He who was and will always be our refuge and support, as we continue being “burning embers, witnesses to the faith”.
Read more about the beatification of the Sixty-eight Marists martyred in Spain
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