June 4
José María Gran Cirera and nine companion martyrs (†1980–1991)
Martyrs
Three Missionary priests of the Sacred Heart and seven lay people were murdered in Guatemala for pastorally accompanying indigenous communities and defending the dignity of the poor.
Biography
José María Gran Cirera, Faustino Villanueva and Juan Alonso Fernández continued visiting villages and training catechists despite the threats. Together with Domingo del Barrio, Nicolás Castro, Reyes Us, Tomás Ramírez, Rosalío Benito, Miguel Tiu and Juan Barrera suffered the violence of persecution against the Church between 1980 and 1991. Their martyrdom testifies that evangelization includes the peaceful defense of all human life.
Practical advice
Defend the dignity of a vulnerable person today with peaceful means, even if doing so is uncomfortable.
Example of
FortitudeFaithfulnessSacrifice