Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Guadalajara (Agenzia Fides) - On the anniversary celebrated today, May 21, of the martyrs from the Jalisco Heights during the Cristero Wars, that were canonized on this date eight years ago by John Paul II, Cardinal Juan Sandoval Iñiguez, Archbishop of Guadalajara, wrote a letter inviting all faithful to participate in the celebratory acts. The Cardinal asked all parish priests of the Archdiocese to celebrate the feast in all the Churches and in addition hold a special celebration at the site where they are constructing the Shrine to the Martyrs, where a pilgrimage will be held and at 12:00 there will be a Mass celebrated, presided by the Cardinal in the provisional chapel.
“The Church of Guadalajara,”said Cardinal Sandoval, “is a privileged Church because although there are many martyrs in Mexico, the majority of whom gave their life up for the faith, it was here in these lands that it all took place and of those who have been canonized and beatified, the majority are from this very Archdiocese of Guadalajara.” For this reason, if all Mexico is indebted to the martyrs, “even more so are we, the people of Guadalajara, as many of them were born and educated here. They hold an invaluable spiritual wealth that is priceless, the worth of having been witnesses to the faith, men of their word, defenders of ideals, brave in the face death itself, and faithful to Our Lord Jesus Christ, to the point of shedding their own blood and surrendering their lives; admirable spiritual values that should be an inspiration to us all, to imitate their fidelity and loyalty to our beliefs.”
The great work of faith will be celebrated in the Martyr’s Shrine, which hopes to open its doors in four years, in 2012. In a recent letter written by the Cardinal to the city’s mayor and his colleagues to thank them for their help in the construction of the new building, the Cardinal recalled that the Shrine to the Mexican Martyrs is “an important project, from the religious -as well as the social - point of view, that is being carried out with the generous help of people and institutions who have understood the need for a proper celebratory site, fit for the numerous Catholic community.” This great project has come to pass precisely because of the understanding of “the duty to honor our saints, especially the martyrs, that are a spiritual wealth for the people of Mexico, especially in Jalisco. The Shrine, which in their honor will be built, will be a work of faith and charity, a center for devotion and pilgrimage site for many people.” (RG) (Agenzia Fides 21/05/2008 righe 30, parole 437)
