Remembering St Cristobal Magallanes Jara

Today we remember a Mexican priest, Fr Christopher Magallanes, who was executed without trial during what was known as the Cristero Rebellion that took place in central Mexico from 1926-1929. He was ordained in 1899 at the age of 30. His parents were farmers and he worked as a shepherd in his youth. In 1914, the Mexcian government decreed that the seminary in Guadalajara be closed. So Magallanes opened a secret seminary in his parish. Within one year he had 17 students and the archbishop of Guadalajara assigned two professors to this seminary. When Fr Christopher was falsely accused of inciting rebellion, he was arrested en route to a farm where he was going to say mass. Four days later on 21 May 1927, as he was about to be killed, he gave away his possessions to his executioners and gave them absolution. Among the 25 other martyrs who were canonised alongside Fr Christopher on May 21, 2000, there were priests and seminarians who lived and worked with him. It is appropriate then, that the first reading today from James 4:1-10 begins with the question, “Where do these wars and battles between yourselves first start. Isn’t it precisely in the desires fighting inside your own selves?” In a similar vein, the gospel reading from Mark 9:30-37 tells about the time when Jesus asked his disciples, “What were you arguing about on the road?” They had been arguing about who was the greatest. Let us pray, in memory of St Cristobel Magallanes Jara and his companions, for all who are innocent victims of war and hatred, all who are falsely accused or targeted as enemies of the state without proper trial.