Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro
Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro (born January 13, 1891 AD in Guadalupe, Zacatecas, Mexico; died November 23, 1927 AD in Mexico City, Mexico) was a Mexican Jesuit priest and martyr, executed by firing squad during the anti-Catholic persecution of the Cristero era. Famous for exercising his priestly ministry in secret and in disguise, and for dying with the cry "¡Viva Cristo Rey!"—"Long live Christ the King!"—he is venerated as a Blessed and martyr of the Church. His feast day is November 23.
Cheerful, resourceful, and fearless, Father Miguel Pro ministered to the faithful of Mexico City in defiance of the persecuting government until he was arrested on a false charge and shot without trial. He was beatified in 1988.
Stored in Cargo: Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro
| Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | November 23 |
| Profession | Jesuit priest; martyr |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Society of Jesus (Jesuits) |
| Patronage | Mexico; those persecuted for the faith; invoked against religious persecution |
| Attributes | Priestly garb; crucifix; palm of martyrdom; outstretched arms |
| Birthplace | Guadalupe, Zacatecas, Mexico |
| Death Place | Mexico City, Mexico |
| Cause of Death | Martyrdom; executed by firing squad during the Cristero persecution |
| Primary Shrine | Mexico City, Mexico |
Biography
Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez was born on January 13, 1891, at Guadalupe in the Mexican state of Zacatecas, into a devout and lively family. High-spirited and witty from his youth, he entered the Society of Jesus in 1911. Because of the growing persecution of the Church in Mexico, his religious formation took him into exile—to studies in the United States, Spain, Nicaragua, and Belgium—and he was ordained a priest in Belgium in 1925.
Though he suffered from serious stomach ailments, he returned to Mexico in 1926, just as the government of President Plutarco Elías Calles was enforcing severe anti-clerical laws that drove the practice of the faith underground and provoked the Cristero uprising. Public worship was suppressed and priests were hunted. Father Pro carried on a clandestine ministry in Mexico City with great daring and good humor, going about in disguise to celebrate Mass in secret, distribute Communion, hear confessions, and bring material and spiritual help to the poor and the persecuted.
In November 1927 he and his brothers were arrested on a false accusation of involvement in an assassination attempt against a government figure—a charge of which he was innocent. Without any trial, on the orders of President Calles, he was executed by firing squad on November 23, 1927. Refusing a blindfold, he faced his executioners with his arms outstretched in the form of a cross, forgave them, and died crying, "¡Viva Cristo Rey!" Photographs of his execution, meant to intimidate the faithful, instead spread his fame as a martyr throughout Mexico and beyond.
Miguel Agustín Pro was beatified on September 25, 1988, by Pope John Paul II. His feast is kept on November 23.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: None
Death location: None
Notable location:
Notable location:
Notable location:
Notable location:
Notable location:
Dynamic content
Parishes
No parishes dedicated to Miguel Agustin Pro have been added to the database yet.
Media
No media found for this saint.
Shrines
Dynamic shrines
No results
No shrines where this saint is the primary saint.
Feast day
November 23
Prayers
Authored
There are prayers authored by this saint in prayers list yet.
Intercessory
There are no prayers asking for this saint's intercession in prayers list yet.