In March 2001, Pope John Paul II beatified a group of martyrs killed during the Spanish Civil War in what was the largest ceremony of its kind.

These 233 martyrs were from all walks of life—ordained, religious, and laypeople. They were killed for professing their faith during a time of persecution, not for any political involvements.

This group of martyrs is only a small portion of the more than 10,000 people killed in Spain in the 1930s—other martyrs include 13 bishops, 4,154 priests and seminarians, 2,365 religious, 283 nuns and about 4,000 lay people killed for helping or hiding nuns or priests.

The martyrs honored today include Maria Teresa Ferragud, an 83-year-old woman from Valencia, who was killed with her four daughters, all of whom were religious sisters. They were killed on the feast of Christ the King in 1936, and Maria asked to be killed last so that she could encourage her daughters to die for their faith. The men who killed her immediately recognized that she was a saint.

Another of today’s martyrs is Francisco Castello y Aleu, who was 22 years old, a chemist by trade, and engaged to be married. He did not want to hide his faith during the persecution. Moments before he was killed, he wrote letters to his sister, to his spiritual director, and to his fiancée. He wanted to offer his youth as a loving sacrifice to God.

“The Church wishes to recognize these men and women as examples of courage and constancy in faith, helped by God’s grace,” said Pope John Paul II at the beatification Mass. “For us they are models of consistency with the truth they professed, while at the same time they honor the noble Spanish people and the Church.”

You Blessed 233 Spanish Martyrs, who were killed for proclaiming your faith during the Spanish Civil War, pray for us!