CHARLOTTE — Relics of six Mexican martyrs who were members of the Knights of Columbus were displayed in several parishes across the Diocese of Charlotte Jan. 10-20. The first-class bone relics of these Central American saints arrived in the diocese as a special recognition after the Knights of Columbus in North Carolina were honored by the Supreme Council for their efforts in increasing Hispanic membership.
“We received this as a token of appreciation because in the past three years we have had tremendous growth in Hispanic membership,” said Miguel Flores, field agent for the Knights of Columbus in Winston-Salem.
A cross containing a fragment of the DNA of each of the saints, brought from Guadalajara, Mexico, was first taken to the Diocese of Raleigh before arriving in the western part of the state.
These six Mexican martyrs were chaplains of their respective Knights of Columbus councils during the Cristero War, a violent anti-clerical repression carried out by the Mexican government in the 1920s against the Catholic Church. Through their ministry, these chaplains provided spiritual support to persecuted faithful, celebrated the sacraments in secret under the risk of arrest or violence, and became examples of courage and fidelity during intense repression.
Among them are figures such as St. Luis Bátiz Sáinz, who was executed for refusing to renounce his faith and, according to witnesses, died proclaiming, “Long live Christ the King and the
Virgin of Guadalupe!” José María Robles Hurtado, a parish priest in Tecolotlán, remained faithful to his community even when public worship was banned and was executed after refusing to flee. Miguel de la Mora was killed as he prayed the rosary. Pedro de Jesús Maldonado Lucero and Mateo Correa Magallanes were executed for steadfastly carrying out their pastoral ministry, and Rodrigo Aguilar Alemán was captured and hanged in a public square for proclaiming his faith and defending his devotion to Christ.
These six were among 25 Mexican martyrs canonized by then-Pope John Paul II in 2000.
Parishes with a significant Hispanic presence that are part of the Knights of Columbus received the relics.The relics were displayed at Holy Trinity Mission in Taylorsville, Holy Infant Church in Reidsville, St. Benedict the Moor, St. Leo the Great and Our Lady of Mercy churches in Winston-Salem, Holy Family Church in Clemmons, and lastly at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Charlotte.
“There has been a mix of spiritual emotions in the different places,” Flores said. “It’s amazing to have the relics here.”
In each parish, dozens of faithful had the opportunity to approach the relics, where they could hear about the history of these martyrs from the Knights of Columbus. Some came to read the description in a brochure.
Others knelt in reverence for veneration, even touching the large reliquary with a rosary or a blessed cross.
At Our Lady of Mercy Parish, Guillermo Arellano, a member of the Knights of Columbus, said he was impressed by the martyrs’ story.
“I didn’t know they were Knights of Columbus; what they did to defend the Catholic Church is really an inspiration to me,” Arellano said.
According to Flores, who oversaw the rotation of the relics through the different parishes, both adults and children, when confronted with this reminder of faith and courage, have felt inspired to live by these values.
“Some people have broken down in tears, and some have been mesmerized by the story of these martyrs,” said Flores. “I’ve seen an increase in faith, inspiration and motivation in many of the faithful thanks to this.”
— Brian Segovia
