522 Spanish Martyrs facts for kids
The 522 Spanish Martyrs were people honored by the Roman Catholic Church on October 13, 2013. They were recognized as martyrs because they lost their lives during the Spanish Civil War. This special event, called a beatification, was led by Pope Francis. It was one of the largest groups of people ever beatified at one time in the 2000-year history of the Church. These individuals came from all parts of Spain. Their ages ranged from 18 to 86 years old.
A Special Ceremony
The beatification ceremony took place in Complex Educatiu, Tarragona, Spain. Cardinal Angelo Amato led the event. Many of those honored, about one-third, were from the Diocese of Tarragona. This included 147 martyrs, such as Auxiliary Bishop Manuel Borrás and 66 local priests.
Who Were the Martyrs?
The 522 martyrs included different groups of people. There were three bishops, 82 priests, and three seminarians (students training to be priests). Also, 15 priests from a special brotherhood were honored. A large number, 412, were religious people like monks and nuns. Seven were regular people, not priests or religious.
These individuals came from all over Spain. Some were also from other countries like Colombia, Cuba, the Philippines, and Portugal. The biggest group, 147 people, came from Tarragona. Most of them died during the Spanish Civil War. However, some were killed in Asturia in 1934, two years before the war officially began.
The youngest martyr was Jose Sanchez Rodriguez. He was a Carmelite novice, meaning he was training to become a Carmelite monk. He was 18 years old when he died in Madrid on August 18, 1936. The oldest martyr was Servite Sister Aurora Lopez Gonzalez. She was 86 years old when she lost her life.
Many Groups Honored
The 522 martyrs came from many different religious groups and places. They were part of 33 separate causes, which means their stories were studied individually. Here are a few examples of the groups:
- People from the Mercedarian Province of Aragon.
- Bishop Manuel Basulto Jimenez and others from the Diocese of Jaén.
- Manuel Borras Ferre and many others from the Archdiocese of Tarragona.
- Dominican priests like Raymundo Joaquín Castano Gonzalez.
- Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul from Madrid.
- Franciscan Friars Minors and clergy from the Diocese of Cartagena.
- Marist Brothers of the Schools from Madrid and Cuenca.
- Hospitallers of Saint John of God from various cities.
- Carmelites and De La Salle Brothers from Madrid.
- Benedictines from El Pueyo.
- Sons of the Holy Family from Catalunya.
- Servants of Mary, Ministers of the Sick, including Mother Aurelia Arambarri Fuente.
- Minim Nuns of the Monastery of Barcelona, such as Mother Maria of Montserrat.
- Father José María of Manila, who was born in the Philippines. He was 55 when he died in Madrid in 1936.
- Many Franciscan Capuchins from different regions of Spain.
Images for kids
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Some of the martyrs pictured.
See also
In Spanish: Beatificación de Tarragona para niños
- Martyrs of Daimiel
- Martyrs of Turon
- 233 Spanish Martyrs
- 498 Spanish Martyrs
