del Río is one of the heroes of the Cristo Rey movement in the early 20th century . . .
Feast Day: February 10
Beatified: November 20, 2005
“In order to go to heaven, we have to go to war,” José Luis Sánchez del Río told his parents as he joined the Cristeros, members of the Mexican church militant who fought to overthrow their country’s atheistic, Masonic government — a regime that converted churches into chicken coops and murdered priests.
When a Cristero general’s horse was killed in battle, José, a flag-bearer, insisted the man take his horse to avoid capture. He barely escaped, but José was taken. There were two ways out of prison: Deny Christ and go free — or stand faithful and die. To break his resolve, soldiers made him watch a comrade hang for the faith. Instead José encouraged the fellow, saying he would meet him in heaven.
José was ordered to the cemetery for execution. As he made a bloody trail through town — the soles of his feet had been cut off — his executioners offered to end the death march if would deny Jesus. José shouted back, “¡Viva Cristo Rey! [Long live Christ the King].”
After he forgave them and prayed for their repentance, the soldiers bayoneted the boy and the commander shot him dead.
MATTHEW A. RAREY is Legatus magazine’s editorial assistant.