EUROPE/ITALY - Commemorating 14 year old Mexican martyr José Luis who died with the cry “Long live Christ the King!”

Rome (Fides Service) - On Thursday 10 November at 3.30pm Pontifical College Regina Apostolorum in Rome will host a Conference “Corazon Cristero. José Luis, a martyr aged 14” to commemorate José Luis Sanchez de Rio, one of thirteen Catholics martyred during persecution in Mexico in the 1920s who are to be beatified on 20 November in Guadalajara, Mexico.
José Luis Sanchez de Rio was taken prisoner by the army. Wanting to make him an example to frighten the people who supported the Cristeros, the soldiers told the young boy to renounce his faith or he would die. The boy refused. The soldiers ripped the skin off the soles of his feet and made him walk barefoot through the city towards the cemetery. Many times along the way the soldiers told the boy to renounce his faith. But every time José Luis replied: “Long live Christ the King!”. When they reached the cemetery the soldiers asked him one last time if he had changed his mind. But Jose Luis shook his head and like many other Mexican martyrs died with the cry “Long live Christ the King!”.
Speakers at the conference will include the rector of Regina Apostolorum College and several teachers. Topics will range from religious persecution, the story and message of this group of thirteen martyrs to be beatified. A video on the theme will also be shown. (AP) (8/11/2005 Agenzia Fides; Righe:20; Parole:254)