Relics of six Mexican martyrs venerated at cathedral basilica
“It’s wonderful that we’re able to get them here for three days in the Mother Church of the archdiocese,” said Knight of Columbus David Cordero, as he welcomed visitors to an exposition of the relics of six Mexican martyrs, displayed at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark, NJ, from July 4 – 6 as part of a nationwide tour.
The relics are bone chips housed in a finely wrought metal and wood reliquary cross, hand-crafted in rural Mexico. They were displayed in the cathedral’s Saint Joseph Chapel. Pilgrims came throughout the weekend to pray before the relics and take prayers cards with images of the six martyrs. After being reverently touched to the reliquary, the prayer cards were considered to be third-class relics.
In 2000, Pope Saint John Paul II canonized 25 Mexican martyrs who were killed during the Cristero War, which unfolded in the early 20th century in the aftermath of the Mexican Revolution. At that time, the government passed a new constitution and other legislation that exerted control over the Church. Among other things, the state seized church property, prohibited priests and religious from wearing outwardly religious symbols, and excluded Catholics from expressing the faith in public life. When the Church resisted, publish worship was suspended. Penalties for defying the new laws were severe.
Six men who died expressing their faith
The six saints whose relics were on display at the cathedral were all priests, and most of them were killed during a period of severe persecution in 1927. St. Miguel de la Mora was executed with his brother amid piles of horse manure for refusing to sign an oath of loyalty to the government. St. José María Robles Hurtado was arrested by the army for celebrating Mass, in defiance of official decrees. He placed the noose around his own neck so that no soldiers would be faulted in his death.
Before he was hung from a mango tree, St. Rodrigo Aguilar Alemán forgave his persecutors and gave one of them his personal rosary. St. Luis Batis Sánchez, a leader in the nascent Mexican Association for Catholic Youth, was arrested with members of the ministry and executed in Zacatecas. St. Mateo Correa Magallanes was shot through the head for refusing to break the seal of confession under duress.
In 1937, St. Pedro de Jesús Maldonado, a Texas-educated Chihuahuan priest, was arrested on Ash Wednesday and beaten by political agents in front of the city hall. He died the next day in a hospital from his injuries at the age of 44.
Examples of boundless freedom
The cathedral community was very receptive to the relics, with about 300 people venerating them over the Independence Day weekend. They also embraced the chance to learn about previously unknown saints. Ashley, a lector at the cathedral, described the presence of the relics as an enrichment to the Cathedral community’s faith life.
“I think it’s beautifully displayed,” she said. “It’s very special to have this inside of our basilica. The saints are special to us, and we’re very grateful to have this experience.”
Father Matthew Gonzalez, rector of the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, reflected on the inspiration the martyrs offered at an important moment.
“It’s beautiful that the cathedral is hosting the relics of the Mexican martyrs during Fourth of July weekend when we are pondering freedom. Many times, we think freedom might be about freedom from things — freedom from limitations, freedom from oppression — but another thing that we can think about is freedom for — freedom for love, freedom for forgiveness, freedom for sacrifice,” Father Gonzalez, said.
“I think the martyrs teach us this kind of boundless freedom when we put Christ at the center where He is King,” he continued. “So, I think it’s very significant that the cathedral is hosting their relics, not just in a general sense, but particularly now as we celebrate the 250th birthday of the nation.”
Spreading awareness and sharing faith
The six priest-martyrs celebrated at the cathedral also had one other thing in common: They were all Knights of Columbus. The knights were important defenders of Mexican Catholics during the Cristero War — some, like the six martyrs, at the cost of their lives.
In the US, the Knights of Columbus actively advocated for their persecuted Mexican brothers and sisters. Eventually, their pleas reached the ears of the Coolidge administration. Such efforts made an impact, though the persecution persisted for decades. Not until 1992 was the Catholic Church granted the right to own the churches it built.
A century after the Cisteros War, the Knights of Columbus continue to raise awareness about the history of Mexico and its martyrs. They hope that the presence of the relics at the cathedral will have a lasting impact. “People are still talking about when John Paul II’s relics were brought to the cathedral,” said John Tirado, faith director for the knight’s New Jersey Council. “Humbly, I hope that years from now people will remember that the Mexican martyrs’ relics were brought to the cathedral basilica. We live in a time when our Mexican community should be celebrated and honored; especially for their deep and rich faith.”
Tirado also sees the relic tour as an opportunity to generously share that faith with others, mirroring the generosity of the six martyrs who gave their lives for their countrymen.
“A lot of things in life we can be selfish about, we don’t want to be selfish about our faith,” Cordero added. “We want to share it with everyone, and if it changes one heart, then that’s all we need to do.”
To view more images of the relics of the Mexican martyrs at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, CLICK HERE.
The relic tour continues
The relics of the six Mexican martyrs will continue their tour, with visits to parishes in the Archdiocese of Newark and throughout New Jersey. Please contact individual parishes for visitation times and additional information.
July 9: Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption, Trenton
July 10: Saint Joachim Parish, Bellmawr
July 11: Saint Lawrence Parish, Lindenwold
July 12: Saint Joseph of the Palisades Parish, West New York
July 13: Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish, Jersey City
July 14: Saint Ann’s Parish, Browns Mills
July 15: Oratory Church of Saint Anthony of Padua, Red Bank
July 16: Mother of Mercy Parish, Asbury Park
July 17: Sacred Heart Parish, South Amboy
July 18: Saint Joseph Pro-Cathedral, Camden
July 19: Saint Lawrence the Martyr Parish, Chester
July 21: Saint Mary of Mount Virgin Parish, New Brunswick
July 22: Jesus the Lord Parish, Keyport
Featured image: The Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark, NJ, hosted the relics of six Mexican martyrs from July 4-6. (Photo by Shania Mosquera / Archdiocese of Newark)
