Every September 22, the Church honors the memory of the 233 martyrs of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), beatified by St. John Paul II in Rome on March 11, 2001. It is the largest group beatified in a single ceremony up to that point, known as “the martyrs of Valencia” or “José Aparicio Sanz and his 232 companion martyrs”.
The group brings together priests, religious men, religious women, laypeople, fathers and mothers of families, young people and the elderly. The variety of vocations and states of life shows the universality of the persecution and, at the same time, the unifying strength of faith in Christ. In his beatification homily, St. John Paul II stated that the martyrs are “those who place nothing before the Kingdom of Christ; those who love others even to the point of shedding their blood for them; those who are willing to give everything without demanding anything in return; those who—in a word—live loving and die forgiving”.
The Polish Pope emphasized that these men and women were killed “solely for religious reasons”, without political or ideological implications.
“They died for their faith in Christ, for being active members of the Church. All of them, as documented in the canonical processes, forgave their executioners from their hearts before dying”.
Stories of heroic love
Among the most moving testimonies is that of María Teresa Ferragud, an 83-year-old woman arrested along with her four religious daughters. Sentenced to death, she asked to be the last to be executed so she could accompany and encourage them until the end. The executioners, impressed by her strength, could only exclaim:
“This is a true saint”.
The example of Francisco Alacreu, a 22-year-old young chemist and member of Catholic Action, also stands out; he gave his life by writing letters full of serenity and joy to his family, his spiritual director, and his girlfriend, moments before dying.
Or that of the priest Germán Gozalbo, only 23 years old, who was shot just two months after celebrating his first Mass.
John Paul II insisted that their blood was not in vain: “Sanguis martyrum, semen christianorum! The blood of the martyrs is the seed of new Christians!”. And he added:
“May their blessed memory forever remove from Spanish soil any form of violence, hatred, and resentment. May all, and especially the young, experience the blessing of peace in freedom: peace always, peace with all and for all”.
Martyrs beyond Spain
The group includes figures with a presence in Latin America. Among them is the blessed Salesian José Calasanz Marqués, a missionary in Cuba and superior in various inspectorates, who returned to Spain and gave his life there. Likewise, the Uruguayan lay sisters Dolores and Consuelo Aguiar-Mella Díaz, killed in Madrid in 1936, are included. Their martyrdom led to the breaking of diplomatic relations between Uruguay and Spain.
Seed of hope
These 233 martyrs, victims of hatred toward the faith, left a testimony of serenity, hope, and forgiveness. For the Church, they are a reminder that love and fidelity to Christ are stronger than violence and hatred. Today, more than two decades after their beatification, the Church remembers these martyrs as a source of hope and strength for Christians around the world. In the words of St. John Paul II:
“They are the most eloquent proof of the truth of the faith, which knows how to give a human face even to the most violent death and manifests its beauty even amid atrocious sufferings”.
May their memory continue to be a source of encouragement for Christians who, in different parts of the world, continue to face persecution because of their faith.