St Cristobal Magallanes Jara was also known as Christopher Magallanes.
He was a Catholic Priest and martyr born on July 30 1869 in La Sementera, Totatiche, Jalisco, Mexico and died on May 25 1927 at Colotlán, Jalisco, Mexico.
He had been charged with inciting rebellion and was killed without trial on the way to say Mass during the Cristero War.
His feast day is celebrated on May 21 as one of the Martyrs of the Mexican Revolution.
| St Cristobal Magallanes Jara Biography | |
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| Date of Birth | July 30 1869 |
| Place of Birth | Totatiche, Jalisco, Mexico |
| Profession | Priest and Confessor |
| Place of Work | Mexico |
| Date of Death | May 25 1927 |
| Place of Death | Colotlán, Jalisco, Mexico |
| Feast Day | May 21 |
| Beatification | By Pope John Paul II on November 22 1992 |
| Canonization | By Pope John Paul II on May 21 2000 during the Jubilee of Mexico |
| Patron Saint of | Cancer |
St Cristobal Magallanes Jara Life History
St Christopher Magallanes was the son of a farming couple Rafael Magallanes Romero and Clara Jara Sanchez.
In his youthful days, he worked as a shepherd and at the age of 19, he enrolled in the Conciliar Seminary of San José in Guadalajara.
In 1899, at the age of 30, after completing his seminary education, Cristóbal was ordained at Santa Teresa in Guadalajara. He served as the chaplain of the School of Arts and Works of the Holy Spirit in Guadalajara.
Thereafter, he served as the parish priest of Totatiche his hometown. Here, he founded carpentry shops and schools, a newspaper, catechism centers, an electric plant to power the mills and helped in planning for hydrological works, including the dam of La Candelaria.
In 1914, the anti-Church government closed all seminaries. Father Cristobal looked for the displaced seminarians and started the Auxiliary Seminary of Totatiche, which achieved a student body of 17 students by 1915. He tried to form others but they were all shut down.
Cristobal spoke, wrote and preached against armed rebellion, but along the way he was accused falsley of promoting the Cristero guerilla revolt.
On May 21 1927 while going to celebrate Mass at a farm, he was arrested. He gave his executioners his few remaining possessions and gave them absolution. Without trial, he was martyred in Colotlán, Jalisco together with Saint Agustin Caloca.
Saint Cristobal Magallanes Jara, Priest and Companions Martyrs
The 1917 Mexican constitution was clearly anti-Church and anti-clerical. Its promulgation brought forth several years of violent religious persecution which included murders of several priests and lay leaders, the closing of parochial schools, and the expulsion of foreign priests.
There were 25 of them who died as a result of this persecution at different places and times. They are all celebrated together as a group but each has a separate memorial. These martyrs of the Mexican Revolution are
- Saint Tranquilino Ubiarco Robles
- Saint Toribio Romo González
- Saint Salvador Lara Puente
- Saint Sabas Reyes Salazar
- Saint Roman Adame Rosales
- Saint Rodrigo Aguilar Alemán
- Saint Pedro Esqueda Ramírez
- Saint Pedro de Jesús Maldonado-Lucero
- Saint Miguel de la Mora
- Saint Mateo Correa-Magallanes
- Saint Margarito Flores-García
- Saint Manuel Moralez
- Saint Luis Batiz Sainz
- Saint Justino Orona Madrigal
- Saint Julio álvarez Mendoza
- Saint José María Robles Hurtado
- Saint Jose Isabel Flores Varela
- Saint Jesús Méndez-Montoya
- Saint Jenaro Sánchez DelGadillo
- Saint David Uribe-Velasco
- Saint David Roldán-Lara
- Saint David Galván-Bermúdez
- Saint Cristobal Magallanes Jara
- Saint Atilano Cruz Alvarado
- Saint Agustin Caloca Cortes
St Cristobal Magallanes Birth
He was born on July 30 1869 in La Sementera, Totatiche, Jalisco, Mexico
St Cristobal Magallanes Death
On May 21 1927 while going to celebrate Mass at a farm, he was arrested. He gave his executioners his few remaining possessions and gave them absolution. Without trial, he was martyred in Colotlán, Jalisco together with Saint Agustin Caloca.
Beatification
St Cristobal Magallanes was beatified by Pope John Paul II on November 22, 1992
Canonization
St Cristobal Magallanes was canonized by Pope John Paul II during the Jubilee of Mexico
St Cristobal Magallanes Feast Day
His feast day is celebrated on May 21 as one of the Martyrs of the Mexican Revolution but there is another feast day for him on May 25
Veneration
St Cristobal is venerated in the Catholic Church. On March 7 1992 Pope John Paul II announced the decree of his martyrdom. His attributes are
- Cassock
- sacerdotal vestments
- Bible
- Rosary
- Palm of martyrdom
Today’s Saint Cristobal Magallanes Quote
I am innocent and I die innocent. I forgive with all my heart those responsible for my death, and I ask God that the shedding of my blood serves toward the peace of our divided Mexico.
Saint Cristobal just before his executioners fired
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