“No, we are not rebels, God Lives!
we are simply oppressed catholic priests,
who do not want to be apostates,
who reject the disgrace and shame of Iscariot.”
we are simply oppressed catholic priests,
who do not want to be apostates,
who reject the disgrace and shame of Iscariot.”
Born: 19 of June of 1874 (Tecalitlan, Jalisco, Mexico)
Died: 7 of August of 1927 (Cardonna, Colima, Mexico)
Beatified: 22 of November of 1992
Canonized: 21 of May of 2000 by Pope John Paul II
Feast: 25 of May
Priest and martyr
Father Miguel de la Mora y de la Mora was shot in the police station of Colima on August 7, 1927 when he was 53 years old, having been a priest for 21 years. He had been born on June 19, 1874 in Tecalitlan, Jalisco, to a peasant family, numerous and profoundly christian. His parents were Jose de la Mora y Margarita de la Mora. He was baptized the day after his birth in the town’s church. He spent his childhood in the Rincon del Tigre ranch, where he became fond of the earth, its fruits, livestock and their offspring. He helped his parents and brothers with the chores of the land and became a good rider.
Died: 7 of August of 1927 (Cardonna, Colima, Mexico)
Beatified: 22 of November of 1992
Canonized: 21 of May of 2000 by Pope John Paul II
Feast: 25 of May
Priest and martyr
Father Miguel de la Mora y de la Mora was shot in the police station of Colima on August 7, 1927 when he was 53 years old, having been a priest for 21 years. He had been born on June 19, 1874 in Tecalitlan, Jalisco, to a peasant family, numerous and profoundly christian. His parents were Jose de la Mora y Margarita de la Mora. He was baptized the day after his birth in the town’s church. He spent his childhood in the Rincon del Tigre ranch, where he became fond of the earth, its fruits, livestock and their offspring. He helped his parents and brothers with the chores of the land and became a good rider.
A remarkable priestly vocation that was tried and tested
Despite coming from a poor peasant family that was tested by necessity, he was not a victim of despair. As it happened with other priestly martyrs, his family knew how to handle those circumstances with effort and dignity. This is the case of the boy Miguel de la Mora. Since the time of his adolescence, amid cattle and fields, he experienced the burning desire to become a priest.
After the death of Mr. Jose de la Mora, Miguel’s older brother, who lived in the city of Colima, took care of him. Upon learning of his intention to become a priest, he took him with him to enroll him in the seminary of Colima. There are no exact records about the time of his education in the seminary and of his priestly ordination, because the revolutionaries took the diocesan archive and threw it in a corner of the courtyard of the episcopal palace, which was under rebel control. However, from accounts of his family, we know that he was ordained in 1906 in Colima, one of the places where the Cristero war would burn with all its strength and where the government became merciless with its repression.
Despite coming from a poor peasant family that was tested by necessity, he was not a victim of despair. As it happened with other priestly martyrs, his family knew how to handle those circumstances with effort and dignity. This is the case of the boy Miguel de la Mora. Since the time of his adolescence, amid cattle and fields, he experienced the burning desire to become a priest.
After the death of Mr. Jose de la Mora, Miguel’s older brother, who lived in the city of Colima, took care of him. Upon learning of his intention to become a priest, he took him with him to enroll him in the seminary of Colima. There are no exact records about the time of his education in the seminary and of his priestly ordination, because the revolutionaries took the diocesan archive and threw it in a corner of the courtyard of the episcopal palace, which was under rebel control. However, from accounts of his family, we know that he was ordained in 1906 in Colima, one of the places where the Cristero war would burn with all its strength and where the government became merciless with its repression.
His priestly ministry
Father Miguel de la Mora developed his priestly ministry in Tomatlan, in the cathedral of Colima, in the Hacienda de San Antonio, in Zapotitlan, and again in the cathedral. In 1912, when the first chapter of the cathedral was established, he was named as one of its chaplains. On October 20, 1914 he was appointed pastor of Zapotitlan, where he exercised his ministry with dedication and pastoral zeal, attentive to the spiritual needs of the faithful, and especially dedicated to the work of catechesis, which he attended personally. In May of 1918 he returned to the cathedral, once again as a chaplain. With diligence and punctuality that was almost exaggerated he attended the service at the cathedral evenings and mornings: he participated in the recitation of the Divine Office; served as a deacon or sub-deacon in the Conventual Mass of the cathedral chapter; he attended the confessional and faithfully prayed the rosary every day. His work in the cathedral did not prevent him from ministering to the spiritual needs of the sick, doing it as often as necessary and with pleasure. He also was commissioned as diocesan director of the nascent work of the Propagation of the Faith for missions and spiritual direction of the La Paz girls' school.
Colima was one of the most dramatic cases of the persecution
Colima was one of the worst areas of government repression. Its governor, Francisco Solorzano Bejar, distinguished himself in this aspect; he wanted to implement, with all the means that violence suggested him, the new anti-religious laws of the Maximato. According to those laws, priests were required to come before the civil authority in order to obtain the necessary records to exercise their ministry, as well as being at the disposal of the civil government of the state to be removed and sent to another place if the civil authorities deemed it necessary or desirable. Among other things, it also established that only 20 priests were allowed throughout the state, order that was never accepted by the Church, the bishop and priests.
In fact, Colima was the first Mexican State where Article 130 of the anti-Christian Constitution was implemented, and there began the bloody persecution, which provoked, at the same time, strong popular protests. The Government did not recognize the authority of the bishops, much less the Pope. The protests of the bishop, Amador Velasco, were of no avail. The Governor signed the law on March 24, 1926 determining the offenses in religious matters and establishing penalties for offenders.
Therefore the bishop of Colima ordered the suspension of public worship in April, as would all the Mexican episcopate three months later. The bishop had previously met with all his priests and celebrated with them a holy hour of adoration before the Holy Sacrament: all of them accepted his decision and declared themselves priests of the Catholic Church, signing a document of adherence to the faith of the Catholic Church and fidelity to the bishops. Their declaration ended like this: "No, we are not rebels, God lives! we are simply oppressed Catholic priests, who do not want to be apostates, who reject the disgrace and shame of Iscariot."
As a result, the bishop and the priests were indicted. Some were banished and others went into hiding, with the purpose of providing spiritual assistance to their people: they contrived to celebrate Mass and the sacraments in private homes, always where they could and risking their lives, for a death sentence loomed over them if they were found in such religious services. But the priests had committed themselves to accept the consequences also, even if they were painful and bitter. However, despite being a particularly small state, the government never managed to capture his bishop, who did not leave the territory but lived supported by his own people.
Father Miguel de la Mora developed his priestly ministry in Tomatlan, in the cathedral of Colima, in the Hacienda de San Antonio, in Zapotitlan, and again in the cathedral. In 1912, when the first chapter of the cathedral was established, he was named as one of its chaplains. On October 20, 1914 he was appointed pastor of Zapotitlan, where he exercised his ministry with dedication and pastoral zeal, attentive to the spiritual needs of the faithful, and especially dedicated to the work of catechesis, which he attended personally. In May of 1918 he returned to the cathedral, once again as a chaplain. With diligence and punctuality that was almost exaggerated he attended the service at the cathedral evenings and mornings: he participated in the recitation of the Divine Office; served as a deacon or sub-deacon in the Conventual Mass of the cathedral chapter; he attended the confessional and faithfully prayed the rosary every day. His work in the cathedral did not prevent him from ministering to the spiritual needs of the sick, doing it as often as necessary and with pleasure. He also was commissioned as diocesan director of the nascent work of the Propagation of the Faith for missions and spiritual direction of the La Paz girls' school.
Colima was one of the most dramatic cases of the persecution
Colima was one of the worst areas of government repression. Its governor, Francisco Solorzano Bejar, distinguished himself in this aspect; he wanted to implement, with all the means that violence suggested him, the new anti-religious laws of the Maximato. According to those laws, priests were required to come before the civil authority in order to obtain the necessary records to exercise their ministry, as well as being at the disposal of the civil government of the state to be removed and sent to another place if the civil authorities deemed it necessary or desirable. Among other things, it also established that only 20 priests were allowed throughout the state, order that was never accepted by the Church, the bishop and priests.
In fact, Colima was the first Mexican State where Article 130 of the anti-Christian Constitution was implemented, and there began the bloody persecution, which provoked, at the same time, strong popular protests. The Government did not recognize the authority of the bishops, much less the Pope. The protests of the bishop, Amador Velasco, were of no avail. The Governor signed the law on March 24, 1926 determining the offenses in religious matters and establishing penalties for offenders.
Therefore the bishop of Colima ordered the suspension of public worship in April, as would all the Mexican episcopate three months later. The bishop had previously met with all his priests and celebrated with them a holy hour of adoration before the Holy Sacrament: all of them accepted his decision and declared themselves priests of the Catholic Church, signing a document of adherence to the faith of the Catholic Church and fidelity to the bishops. Their declaration ended like this: "No, we are not rebels, God lives! we are simply oppressed Catholic priests, who do not want to be apostates, who reject the disgrace and shame of Iscariot."
As a result, the bishop and the priests were indicted. Some were banished and others went into hiding, with the purpose of providing spiritual assistance to their people: they contrived to celebrate Mass and the sacraments in private homes, always where they could and risking their lives, for a death sentence loomed over them if they were found in such religious services. But the priests had committed themselves to accept the consequences also, even if they were painful and bitter. However, despite being a particularly small state, the government never managed to capture his bishop, who did not leave the territory but lived supported by his own people.
Father Miguel, persecuted priest
Father Miguel also went into hiding to continue his ministry. Aware of the danger, his relatives insisted that he go with them, but he answered them: <No, how are we going to leave Colima without priests?" He refused then to leave the city and go to his hometown where he would have found safe haven. He went into "hiding" in his own home; but since general Flores lived across the street, in one act of carelessness the father was recognized by him and detained immediately. He ordered him to open the cathedral for worship, adhering to a Mexican schismatic church that Calles had tried to found, but the priest remained always faithful to his bishop and the Pope.
He was released from prison on bail and was required to report daily to the headquarters, but was warned that he would definitely go to prison after his bail expired, unless he enabled worship in the cathedral, where he was chaplain. During the days when the city was his prison, he was called repeatedly by General Flores, who along with other military personnel, taunted him and another priest that they had taken prisoner, Father Jose A. Carrillo. The persistent disturbances, the time that was running out and the feeling that he might not be able to resist the pressure from the military, made him think that it was prudent to leave the city, even if he lost his bail and compromised his life.
He was released from prison on bail and was required to report daily to the headquarters, but was warned that he would definitely go to prison after his bail expired, unless he enabled worship in the cathedral, where he was chaplain. During the days when the city was his prison, he was called repeatedly by General Flores, who along with other military personnel, taunted him and another priest that they had taken prisoner, Father Jose A. Carrillo. The persistent disturbances, the time that was running out and the feeling that he might not be able to resist the pressure from the military, made him think that it was prudent to leave the city, even if he lost his bail and compromised his life.
The escape from the city of Colima and his capture
Father Miguel felt in his soul that perhaps he would not have enough courage to support all the psychological pressures that he was suffering. Then he thought about calling his brother Rodrigo and said, "I cannot take it anymore; take me to the ranch with the family." When everything was ready he left in the morning of August 7, 1927, accompanied by his brother Regino and Father Crispiniano Sandoval, bound for his native ranch, Rincon del Tigre, in a car that was owned by a friend. The vehicle left them in La Estancia, where some young men were waiting for them with remudas in which they continued their journey until they reached Cardona, where they tried to have breakfast. In Cardona, they stopped to eat something and a lady asked Father Miguel: "Are you a padrecito? I wish you would marry my daughter." He replied: "Yes." There were some agrarians who were nearby and heard the response of the father. They were immediately arrested and taken to the Headquarters of Military Operations in Colima.
The agrarians did not realize that his companion, Father Sandoval, was also a priest. For that reason they lost interest in him and he was able to flee once they reached the city. They did not hurt the young men either, whom they let go, but not Regino de la Mora, the brother of Father Miguel.
The father had to travel on foot from Carmona, among the agrarians, who took the horses of the priests. He arrived in the city, along the main street, feeling very tired. It was almost noon in a month of intense heat. When General Flores learned of the father’s capture, he went to the barracks and said: "What is the padrecito doing here?" The father replied: "Well, here I am..." The General replied: "Well, now you will take him away...", and immediately ordered the execution of the two brothers.
Shot in front of his brother
The priest did not answer. Inside the barracks, without any military formalism, they ordered the father to walk towards the stables of the barracks; the martyr then took out his rosary and started praying. They told him to stand against to the wall. There, standing on animal manure, he was shot unceremoniously. The captain in charge of the firing squad gave the coup de grace to the astonishment of his brother Regino, who was not shot because he defended himself by claiming that he had not committed any crime and was not a priest. It was noon on August 7, 1927. Regino was released days later after paying a sum of money. After that General Flores himself came to the house of the martyr’s sister and told her: "I just shot your brother, send somebody to pick up his body," and without further ado he entered the martyr’s room to plunder it.
The news spread quickly and people rushed to pick up the body and keep vigil, but the general and his soldiers would not let them. In a hearse, called "butterfly", he was taken to the cemetery, where it seems that some relatives were able to get the body and bury him quickly. A few days later, General Flores with a platoon of soldiers went to the cemetery at night to exhume the body, believing that he could have some money. Since he had nothing, he was thrown back into the pit with the box on top of him. There lay the body of the martyr until the persecution subsided, when the faithful were able to bring his body to the cathedral.
The protomartyr priest of Colima
Father Miguel was the first priest of the diocese of Colima who suffered martyrdom. The news of this event resonated throughout the diocese and, without doubt, was considered from the first day as a true martyr of the faith, his priesthood, his fidelity to the Church and his bishop.
This priest, son of the land who ministered in the city of Colima, without much distinction until the persecution broke out, lived an intense life of faith and sacrifice that is powerfully striking. We find him working in the Cathedral of Colima in a routine ministry of little external splendor. However he already enjoyed fame for his Eucharistic devotion, which he showed in the way in which he celebrated Mass and the long hours devoted to prayer. He even had built an oratory in his house, where he prayed every day before dawn. The poor and the sick also came to him, even from distant ranches, without taking into consideration the distance or the difficulties. Likewise the priests went to him to confess and seek his counsel. He led a simple and orderly life when the winds of persecution arrived violently in the state of Colima.
In 1942 his body was exhumed and buried in the crypt of the Martyrs of the Cathedral of Colima. He was beatified on November 22, 1992 and canonized on May 21, 2000, by H.H. John Paul II.
Father Miguel was the first priest of the diocese of Colima who suffered martyrdom. The news of this event resonated throughout the diocese and, without doubt, was considered from the first day as a true martyr of the faith, his priesthood, his fidelity to the Church and his bishop.
This priest, son of the land who ministered in the city of Colima, without much distinction until the persecution broke out, lived an intense life of faith and sacrifice that is powerfully striking. We find him working in the Cathedral of Colima in a routine ministry of little external splendor. However he already enjoyed fame for his Eucharistic devotion, which he showed in the way in which he celebrated Mass and the long hours devoted to prayer. He even had built an oratory in his house, where he prayed every day before dawn. The poor and the sick also came to him, even from distant ranches, without taking into consideration the distance or the difficulties. Likewise the priests went to him to confess and seek his counsel. He led a simple and orderly life when the winds of persecution arrived violently in the state of Colima.
In 1942 his body was exhumed and buried in the crypt of the Martyrs of the Cathedral of Colima. He was beatified on November 22, 1992 and canonized on May 21, 2000, by H.H. John Paul II.
References
Translated from the following articles:
González Fernández, Fidel “San Miguel de la Mora y de la Mora” Diccionario de Historia Cultural de la Iglesia en América Latina 13 August 2015.
14 Feb. 2016 <http://www.enciclopedicohistcultiglesiaal.org/diccionario/index.php/MORA_Y_DE_LA_MORA,_San_Miguel_de_la>
Martínez Puche O.P., Ángel “San Miguel de la Mora” Testimonios Personales 7 August 2015.
14 Feb. 2016 <http://testimoniospersonales.blogspot.com/2015/08/san-miguel-de-la-mora-7-de-agosto.html>
González Fernández, Fidel “San Miguel de la Mora y de la Mora” Diccionario de Historia Cultural de la Iglesia en América Latina 13 August 2015.
14 Feb. 2016 <http://www.enciclopedicohistcultiglesiaal.org/diccionario/index.php/MORA_Y_DE_LA_MORA,_San_Miguel_de_la>
Martínez Puche O.P., Ángel “San Miguel de la Mora” Testimonios Personales 7 August 2015.
14 Feb. 2016 <http://testimoniospersonales.blogspot.com/2015/08/san-miguel-de-la-mora-7-de-agosto.html>