congregation of the mission spanish martyrs

7/27/2019 Congregation of the Mission Spanish Martyrs

1/15

Spanish Civil War Martyrs

of the

Congregation of the Mission

killed because of hatred for the

Catholic faith, and for being

religious clergy


2/15

Fr. Fortunato Velasco Tobar, CM

Some Communist chiefs arrived at his village, and

at one in the morning they took Fr. Fortunato by

force to the national prison, putting him with two

or more other prisoners. The night of 23 August

1936, they took him out of prison and, on the

road to the cemetery, they mortally shot him.

All the witnesses testified that he died forgiving

those who killed him.


3/15

Fr. Leoncio Prez Nebreda, CM

On 29 July 1936, the priests were having their

repast when they heard the parish church bells

clanging alarm. Marxist troops had made their

way into the city. Fr. Leoncio escaped, changing

into old clothing and shoes. A criminal named

Jos Santiago Candeal, suspicious that the oldman was a priest in disguise, intentionally

knocked his hat onto the ground and saw the

tonsure on his head. He hit the priest in the head

and neck with a shovel and some iron bars that

he had in his saddle, until he killed him.


4/15

Br. Luis Aguirre Bilbao,

CM

The Marxists went after Brother Aguirre, who

protested proclaiming his innocence and saying

that he had done nothing for which they should

kill him. They made him get down on his knees

in front of the High School, today the Diocesan

Seminary, and right there they executed him.Before the shots rang out, he declared: If I have

to die, I die for God and Spain. The Marxists

intimidated him by shouting: "Long live

Communism!" but the martyr shouted "Long live

Christ the King!"


5/15

Br. Narciso Pascual

Pascual, CM

On 26 July 1936, Marxist troops took the CMs of

Guadalajara as prisoners. 300 other Catholics were

placed in jail with them. They suffered many

hardships and abuses. There was very little food.

In the cold winter, their wool mattresses,

blankets and coats were taken from them. Thepriests and religious prayed and offered the

sacrament of reconciliation to prisoners who were

being executed. On 6 December, a crowd of

Communists attacked the prison and executed the

prisoners in the prison courtyard.

F Vi t


6/15

Fr. Vicente

Vilumbrales Fuente,

CM

A member of the Province of Madrid, he was

born on 5 April 1909 in Reinoso de Bureba,

Burgos (Spain), was imprisoned for six months

and died on 6 December 1936 in the executions

at Guadalajara.

He had a passion for studying languages, and

taught himself English and French at night in his

spare time. He felt this necessary to communicate

with people, in a modern world that was

becoming smaller and smaller.


7/15

Fr. Gregorio Cermeo Barcel,

CM

A member of the Province of Madrid, he was born on

9 May 1874 in Saragossa (Spain), and died on 6

December 1936 in Guadalajara.

He taught for four years in the Apostolic College of

CM and in the diocesan seminary.

He was especially dedicated to the confessional, where

he remained for hours, with no reward except to see

the faithful enjoy inner peace.


8/15

Fr. Tomas Pallares Ibaez, CM

On 13 October, the Marxists planned to explode

the improvised jail they had set up, when they

saw that government forces were advancing on

the jail. The first explosion destroyed three walls

and left the prisoners without a staircase by which

to escape. The guards lost control of the situation

and shouted "Save yourselves those who can."

Some began to crawl out. Lowering himself by a

sheet rope, Fr. Tomas was shot in the head. He

let go of the rope and fell to the second floor

where he died instantly.


9/15

br. Salustiano Gonzlez Crespo,

CM

A member of the Province of Madrid, he was

born on 1 May 1871 in Tapia de la Rivera Lon

(Spain) and died on 13 October 1934 in Oviedo.

Brother Salustiano died the same day and under

the same circumstances as Fr. Tomas Pallares

Ibaez.


10/15

Fr. Amado Garca Snchez, CM

Even while in hiding he would sneak out early in the

morning to say Mass and hear confessions. On 22

October 1936, he and a Brother were taken prisoner.

He was accused of having said Mass on 15 August, that

he was a priest, a Fascist and that he made people

recite the Creed and the Our Father. He was tortured

for three days. When they came to kill him, heembraced Brother Jimenez and said "Good-bye! See you

in heaven!" Then to his executioners: "Kill me, but do

not do anything to this poor old man who is just our

helper." At the moment of death, he forgave his

executioners and said he was happy to give his life to

God.


11/15

Fr. Andrs Avelino Gutirrez

Moral, CM

On 3 August 1936, about 3:00 p.m., three or four

military Marxists took the Fr. Andrs from prison in

a car and brought him to San Justo Parish in

Astuirias. They made him climb up a steep

mountain. He climbed with much difficulty, praying

all the time, and pushed by his torturers. When he

arrived at the top, about 70 meters, his torturers

shot him. Later, eyewitnesses noticed that his

forehead was marked with a bloody cross about the

width of two fingers. He had sealed his martyrdom

with his own blood by making the sign of the cross

before he died.


12/15

Fr. Ricardo Atanes

Castro, CM

On 14 August 1936, at 4:00 p.m., the Communists

removed all the prisoners being held at San Jos

Church in order to execute them. With a smile on

his face, Fr. Ricardo was dragged to the death truck

along with some 300 companions, among them

priests and religious known for their Catholicism.

The trucks stopped at the summit of one of the

beautiful hills that surround Gijn, not far from the

water shed, which was commonly called "Llantones."

The prisoners were put into lines and, with machine

guns, the Marxists riddled all of them with bullets.


13/15

Fr. Pelayo Jos Granado Prieto,

CM

Arriving at the house, a witness heard the laughs and

sarcasm of military troops who were tormenting Fr.

Pelayo. They were hitting and insulting the priest. They

cut his flesh in pieces saying, look at the white meat he

has! The last three days of his prison torment, he asked

in anguish for some water to drink, but his tormentors

refused. To these physical tortures were added spiritualtortures. He asked for a priest to confess him, but his

request was denied by the Marxists. On 27 August

1936, at night, they took him from his rectory more

dead than alive, stabbed him in the back until he

expired and threw his body into the river.


14/15

Fr. Ireneo Rodrguez Gonzlez,

CM

When they saw that many Christians from their region

were being arrested, the Vincentian Missionaries could

have hidden themselves or found refuge in a safer place

in Spain. But they opted to continue their ministry,

placing their trust in the Lord. In a gesture of heroic

charity, Father Ireneo and another priest offered their

life in order to save the lives of the other prisoners,especially those who were parents, but their

executioners were filled with hatred for the faith and

turned a deaf ear to their plea, thus rejecting their

compassionate charity. They were then placed in front

of the prison walls and shot; their bodies were left on

the ground.


15/15

Fr. Antonio Carmanu Mercader,

CM

Fr. Antonio was very bright and studied humanities

and philosophy. He first intended to become a diocesan

priest but then became attracted to the Vincentian

dedication to the missions. It was said that he had a

quick temper and a tendency to be harsh and

demanding, but experience taught him over time to

deal with all kinds of people and particularly with thepoor. He began to realize that little or nothing is

achieved with the poor without patience, gentleness and

kindness. On 17 August 1936, as his executors shouted

"Long live Communism!", he, exhausted, cried:

I forgive you. Long live Christ the King.

congregation of the mission spanish martyrs

Documents