Rodrigo Aguilar Alemán (1875–1927)

Biography

He had a keen intelligence and good command of the language; He left several writings in prose and verse. In 1903, at the age of 28, he received priestly ordination. He exercised his ministry in several parishes until he was appointed parish priest in Unión de Tula, Jalisco. He was a fervent preacher and was very close to his parishioners, especially the most humble. Religious persecution soon began and she took refuge in a convent of religious worshipers where she took advantage of her stay to direct her spiritual exercises. He always told them with deep conviction: “The soldiers will take our lives, but never our faith.” She had to leave the convent and found refuge in a ranch where she continued to administer the sacraments. He was discovered by a picket of soldiers and when he confessed that he was a priest, he was sentenced to death. On October 28, 1927 in the main square of Ejutla he was hanged, but not before having blessed the rope, and forgiving those who were going to hang him. If he had answered the captain's question of "Who lives" with "Long live the Supreme Government", he would have saved his life, but he answered with a strong voice: "Long live Christ the King and Saint Mary of Guadalupe." This was repeated three times, while they hung him and took him down, until the third time he expired. On November 22, 1922, Pope John Paul II beatified the martyred priest of Sayula, with other Mexican martyrs, and on May 22, 2000 they were all canonized.