Spanish Martyrs Feast Day

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On 28th November, we commemorate the martyrdom of 22 Spanish Oblates and 1 Spanish layman in 1936 during the Spanish Civil War. Today marks 83 years since these seminarians and the layman were killed for their religious beliefs.

During the Spanish Civil War, there were anti-religious tensions, which led to the persecution of many priests and religious. The Oblate seminary in Pozuelo, near Madrid, became a target of these revolutionaries. Over three separate occasions, the Spanish Oblates were taken away from the seminary and were shot dead. On December 17, 2011, Pope Benedict beatified these Spanish Oblates and the layman.

An Oblate priest said that these “martyrs were killed as a community. They never became priests and they never became missionaries. But today they are witnesses. They are witnesses of genuine faith and of the Christian life.”

God our Father, we thank you for lives of the 23 Spanish Oblate martyrs who have joined the company of saints in heaven with you. We thank you for the gift of their courage and faith to spread the Good News of your Son, Jesus Christ, even in the face of persecution.

Help us to experience the courage to express our faith that these men were able to demonstrate through their love for you, especially in times where we feel persecuted or judged for our Christian beliefs and values.

May we continue to serve the wider De Mazenod Family, following the example of the Spanish Oblate martyrs and the Oblate priests of our community who continue to serve us.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Link to more information and a short video.

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