Blessed Dario Acosta Zurita
Blessed Dario Acosta Zurita (born June 27, 1908 AD in Cuitzeo del Porvenir, Michoacán, Mexico; died July 9, 1931 AD in Mexico City, Mexico) was a Mexican Catholic seminarian and martyr of the Cristero era who was killed during the religious persecution under President Plutarco Elías Calles. Born into a devout Catholic family in Michoacán, he pursued his priestly studies and was arrested and executed by government forces for his Catholic faith at the age of 23. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on November 22, 1992, as one of the 25 Martyrs of Mexico. His feast day is May 25 (feast of the Martyrs of Mexico).
Stored in Cargo: Blessed Dario Acosta Zurita, Blessed Darío Acosta Zurita
| Blessed Dario Acosta Zurita | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | May 25 |
| Profession | Seminarian (preparing for priesthood); Mexican Catholic martyr of the Cristero era; son of Michoacán Catholic family; executed July 9, 1931 |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Mexican Catholic tradition; Cristero era martyrs; 20th-century martyrs of Mexico; Michoacán Catholic heritage |
| Patronage | Mexico; Michoacán; seminarians; young Catholics; those persecuted for the faith; martyrs of the Americas; Cristero martyrs; lay Catholic activists |
| Attributes | Seminarian's cassock; palm of martyrdom; Mexican Cristero rosary; "¡Viva Cristo Rey!" motto; July 9 death date; May 25 feast |
| Birthplace | Cuitzeo del Porvenir, Michoacán, Mexico |
| Death Place | Mexico City, Mexico |
| Cause of Death | Martyrdom; executed by government forces on July 9, 1931, in Mexico City; he was 23 years old; he was arrested for his Catholic activities as a seminarian during the Cristero War era; he refused to apostatize and was shot; he died invoking the name of Christ; he is one of the 25 Martyrs of Mexico beatified by Pope John Paul II on November 22, 1992; his beatification took place during the apostolic visit to Mexico; the group is sometimes called the "Cristero martyrs" or the "Mexican Martyrs of the 20th century" |
| Primary Shrine | Mexico; feast May 25 with the Martyrs of Mexico; JPII beatification November 22 1992, Mexico City |
| Liturgical Class | Not in universal Roman calendar; May 25 feast of the Martyrs of Mexico (feast shared with the group) |
| Historic Class | Not in 1962 calendar |
Biography
Dario Acosta Zurita was born June 27, 1908, in Cuitzeo del Porvenir in Michoacán, Mexico, into a deeply Catholic family. He pursued priestly formation as a seminarian during the era of the Cristero War (1926-1929) and the continuing anti-Catholic persecution under the Mexican federal government.
He was arrested by government forces for his Catholic activities and was taken to Mexico City. He refused to apostatize from the Catholic faith and was executed on July 9, 1931, at 23 years of age, dying with a cry of faith on his lips.
He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on November 22, 1992, in Mexico City, as one of the 25 Martyrs of Mexico — a group of priests, religious, and laypeople killed during the Cristero era and its aftermath. His feast day is May 25.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Cuitzeo del Porvenir, Michoacán, Mexico
Death location: Mexico City, Mexico
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Feast day
May 25
Veneration
Blessed Dario Acosta Zurita (1908–1931) was a Mexican seminarian and martyr from Michoacán who was executed by government forces on July 9, 1931, at the age of 23, during the anti-Catholic persecution of the Cristero era; beatified John Paul II in Mexico City, November 22, 1992, as one of the Martyrs of Mexico. Feast May 25.
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