| Vatican City (Fides) - This morning, 22 June, in the Sala Clementina in the Vatican, in the presence of Pope John Paul II, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints promulgated Decrees regarding the heroic virtues, miracles and martyrdom of 16 people, most of them martyrs during persecutions in the 20th century in Spain and Mexico. These heroic Christians lived in Argentina, Chile, India, Italy, Mexico and Spain.
The first group of decrees refers to the heroic virtues of six Servants of God: Spanish priest, Father Pere Tarrés I Claret (1905-1950); Indian Syro-Malabar priest Augustine Thevarparampil, from Palai, Kerala (1891-1973); Mexican Mother Julia de las espinas del Sagrado Corazón (1881-1974); Italian Sister Alfonsa Clerici (1860-1930); Argentinean Sister Maria Crescencia Pérez (1897-1932), born in Argentina died in Chile; Italian Sister Serafina Gregoris (1873-1935).
The decrees of martyrdom regard “a small group of a host of martyrs and witnesses to the faith who followed Christ to the point of shedding their blood for him in Mexico and Spain”.
Rev. José Trinidad Rangel Montańo of Léon, Rev. Andrés Solá Molist, Spanish Claretian priest, and layman Leonardo Pérez Larios, all three men were shot together on 25 April 1927 near Lagos Moreno (Mexico). Mexican priest, Rev. Darío Acosta Zurita Veracruz, shot dead in church on 25 July 1931, only three months after his ordination.
Between 1936 and 1937 in Spain among many Catholics killed there were 14 Discalsed Carmelites of whom 12 were priests led by Father Luca De San José; 44 Brothers of Christian Schools, led by Brother Leonardo José; Superior general of the Carmelite Sisters of Charity, Lizarraga Y Ochoa Mother Apollonia of the Most Holy Sacrament; four Carmelite Missionary Sisters: Sister Esperanza de la Cruz, Sister María del Refugio del Santo Ángel, Sister Daniela de San Bernabé and Sister Gabriela di San Juan de la Cruz; and also a 20 year old seminarians from Barcelona, José Casas Ros.
Brother Bernardo Fábrega Juliŕ (1889-1934), Marist Brothers of Schools, martyred "in odium fidei" at the beginning of the Spanish civil war.
Mexican layman Anacleto González Flores killed on April 1st 1927 with three young members of Mexican Catholic Action. Four other laymen were martyred under various circumstances between 1927 and 1928.
Mexican José Sánchez Del Río, aged 15, shot dead on 10 February 1928.
Four decrees relative to four miracles required for beatification attributed the intercession of: Rev. Pere Tarrés Y Claret; Mother Maria Pia Mastena (1881-1951), lay woman widow Eurosia Fabris Barban (1866-1932), lay woman Pina Suriano (1915-1950). (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 22/6/2004 - Righe 38; Parole 464)
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