Blessed José: teen martyr of the 20th century The 80th anniversary of the death of one of my heroes is coming up on Feb. 10. Blessed José Sanchez del Rio was martyred during the persecution of Catholics that occurred in the early part of the 20th century in Mexico. He joined a Catholic group knowing that he was putting his life on the line. When the authorities caught him, they put him in jail. His ticket to freedom was simply to renounce his Catholic faith.

They made him witness the hanging of a fellow Catholic to scare him into submission. Instead, he encouraged his fellow inmate saying, "You will be in Heaven before me. Prepare a place for me. Tell Christ the King I shall be with him soon."

José's father tried to pay a ransom for his son's life but raised the money too late. When his time came, soldiers shaved off the soles of his feet and made him walk through his town. Time and again they offered him freedom and a safe return to his parents if only he would say "Death to Christ the King." Groaning in pain, he refused their offer, shouting, "Long live Christ the King! Long live our Lady of Guadalupe!"

They taunted him and asked what they should tell his parents. "That I'll see them in heaven" was his reply. They walked him to the cemetery, pointed their guns at him, and offered him freedom one last time. "Long live Christ the King!" he shouted again. The soldiers opened fire. Before receiving the shot that ended his life, he drew a cross in the dirt with his own blood and kissed it. Blessed José was only 14.

Blessed Jose Sanchez del Rio was beatified by Pope Benedict XVI on November 20, 2005.

article by Christopher Stefanick  : http://www.archden.org/dcr//news.php?e=455&s=3&a=9581