From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
November 23rd - Bl. Miguel Agustin Pro
By Father Shannon M. Collins, CPM
St. Francis of Assisi could be described in many ways--a simple and
poor friar--a preacher in word and example--a stigmatist--a lover of
God's creation or the founder of the largest religious family in the
history of the Church. But St. Francis of Assisi is best described as
the herald of the Great King, Christ Jesus. He is first and foremost a
knight of his Lord and Master. Yes, he is best described as a most
loyal subject that has sworn complete allegiance to Christ the King
and to His Kingdom, the Holy Roman Catholic Church. And if Francis
knew any Spanish in addition to his native Italian and beloved French,
he would cry out Viva Christo Rey. St. Francis becomes for us, in
fact, the perfect example of the restoration of fallen man. He is a
true model of how to end the rebellion in all of us and to become a
subject in the Empire of Christ. Francis shows us how to correct the
errors of that sinful revolution that sinful rebellion that began in
the Garden of Eden at the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. But
if Francis were to walk the earth today, he would be considered
rebellious, even revolutionary for he would be going against the
secular tide. St. Francis would be a mutineer in that he would want to overthrow--peacefully of course--the present order of things. He would
be considered a rebel in that Francis would wish to cast down the
mighty secular powers from their thrones, so that Christ's Kingship
might be recognized by all. And yes, he would be considered a
revolutionary in his utter obedience and subjection to Christ and His
Kingdom, while many others continue to deny Christ's Kingship while
serving worldly kingdoms.
The modern world has been especially revolutionary toppling kings from
their thrones and smashing altars. In the year 1917, for example, the Bolsheviks, the Communist revolutionaries in Russia overthrew and
assassinated the Czar and his royal family. But months before this
tragedy, a revolution occurred in Mexico. Yes, the 1917 revolution in
Mexico established the world's first socialist constitution and Holy
Mother Church suffered greatly. Authorities demolished, desecrated,
and seized Catholic Churches and religious houses. In a satanic
rebellion, revolutionaries destroyed sacred vessels, sacramentals, and
sacred works of art. Priests, religious, and Catholic laity were
persecuted and killed. In the Mexican province of Tobasco things were especially difficult. The socialist governor of Tobasco named his
children Lenin, Satan, and Lucifer. He destroyed all churches, forced
priests to marry, and persecuted any true Christian. Some sought to
rise up in a bloody counter-revolution. Catholic men seeking to
protect the Catholic Church and restore her altars took up arms and
called themselves the Cristeros. But the hierarchy of the Church both
in Mexico and Rome did not give their support to this violent
solution. No, the Church which survived Nero and Caligula, the Church
that survived Frederick Barbarossa, the Church that survived Luther,
Henry VIII, and Elizabeth, the Church that survived Hitler and Stalin,
knows that only the blood of martyrs brings peace and an end to
rebellion. As one Mexican bishop put it, We cannot be responsible
before God and man for bloodshed. Better that we should die, and that
out of the martyrs' blood should come new growth. One such martyr was
the Jesuit priest, Fr. Miguel Pro.
Born in Guadalupe in the year 1891, Bl. Miguel Pro was more than a
little rebellious as a youngster. While only a toddler, Miguel managed
to escape the watchful eye of his nursemaid and crawl out onto a
window ledge some three stories above a busy street. His horrified
mother found and rescued him, Another time, when he was a teenager, he
took a cassock from a Jesuit priest and went out to the neighborhoods
preaching his own mission. Accepted as a priest by the simple country
folk, Miguel collected all sorts of gifts, including cigarettes, eggs,
and cheese. But eventually this practical joker would enter the
Society of Jesus for real, although he would have to be both educated
and ordained outside of Mexico because of the persecution connected
with the Socialist Revolution. After ordination, Fr. Miguel was sent
back to his beloved Mexico in 1926. Within a month of his arrival
home, the socialist government suppressed all public worship and any
priest found would be subject to arrest and prosecution.
As a result of this difficulty, Fr. Miguel Pro adopted a number of
disguises so that he could continue to serve the Catholic faithful. He
once dressed as a mechanic and gave a religious talk to a group of
chauffeurs. During one narrow escape from his pursuers, Fr. Miguel
spied a beautiful young girl and linked arms with her whispering, Help
me, I'm a priest. The girl reacted well and the two pretended to be a
couple on a date. This good priest raced back and forth on a bicycle
throughout the city administering Baptism, Holy Communion, and Last
Rites, and heard many confessions. He also acted as true priest taking
up a collection from those with funds and giving material help to the
poor. Just previous to his martyrdom, Fr.Miguel was offering Holy Mass
at a convent. He revealed to the Mother Superior his thoughts: I
offered my life for the saving of Mexico some time ago, Sister, and
this morning at Mass I felt that He had accepted it.
Fr. Miguel Augustin Pro and two of his brothers would soon be arrested
and falsely charged with the attempted assassination of the newly
elected socialist president of Mexico. The young priest received no
trial. On his way to face the firing squad, the police officer that
had caught the saintly priest begged forgiveness. Fr. Miguel put his
arms around the officer saying: You have not only my forgiveness but
my thanks. After praying for a full two minutes, Fr. Miguel stood with
his arms stretched out in the form of a cross. In a firm and clear
voice he shouted, Viva Cristo Rey--Long Live Christ the King. The
firing squad did not kill the courageous priest--though mortally
wounded he stilled breathed. A general walked over to him and fired
his revolver into the head of the martyr. Thinking that this execution
would place fear in the hearts of the Catholic population, President
Calles had photographers and reporters cover all the gruesome details.
His plan backfired, however, as the people grew more faithful, more
Catholic. In fact, soon the government forbid anyone to have
possession of the photographs of the martyrdom.
The rebellion of modern man continues and as a result violence and
injustice continue in this world. Come, let us break their fetters,
come, let us cast off their yoke. Seeking to overthrow God's
established order--plotting against the Lord, His Christ, and the
Catholic Church--has proved disastrous. As Pius XI wrote in the
encyclical Quas Primas--on Christ's Kingship--the manifold evils in
the world are due to the fact that the majority of men have thrust
Jesus Christ and His Holy Law out of their lives ...and as long as
individuals and States refuse to submit to the rule of our Savior,
there will be no hope for lasting peace. The only hope for the reign
of peace and righteousness is to recognize Christ's reign in our
hearts and to restore the Empire of Christ in our families--our
cities--our nation--and yes in the universe--that all men may cry out
with one accord--Viva Cristo Rey--Long Live Christ the King.
Saint Quote:
My Lord and my God, take from me everything that distances me from
you. My Lord and my God, give me everything that brings me closer to
you. My Lord and my God, detach me from myself to give my all to you.
--St. Nicholas of Fl=C3=BCe
Bible Quote:
And eating together with them, he commanded them, that they should not
depart from Jerusalem, but should wait for the promise of the Father,
which you have heard (saith he) by my mouth. For John indeed baptized
with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost, not many
days hence. =C2 (Acts 1:4-5)
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Prayer of the Church
"God our Father, You gave your servant Miguel Agustin the grace to
seek ardently Your greater glory and the salvation of Your people.
Grant that, through his intercession and following his example, we may
serve You and glorify You by performing our daily duties with fidelity
and joy and effectively helping our neighbor" (Collect).
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)