“Vivo Cristo Rey!”
Long Life Christ the King!
As we, the Church, celebrate the solemnity of Christ the King, remember Blessed Miguel Agustín Pro, whose final cry of ‘Vivo Cristo Rey!’ on November 23 still echoes as a fearless witness to the sovereignty of Christ over every earthly power.
November 23rd is the day in 1927, when Blessed Miguel Agustín Pro was martyred in Mexico City, Mexico.
Born José Ramón Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez, this blessed was a Jesuit priest. As a seminarian in 1914, he had to flea for his life as the Mexican government allowed anti-Catholic brutality. The Mexican military and bandits ransacked the seminary and burned down the library as a warning. The superior pleaded for all the seminarians to make their way to California, where a Jesuit community would take them in. Blessed Miguel did as he was advised and made it to Los Gatos, California, after the two-months’ journey on foot.
His servant attitude carried him through his studies and ministries in Spain, Nicaragua, and Belgium before being ordained in 1925.
Tensions in Mexico continued to heighten – the government closed all churches. Despite this, Blessed Miguel returned to his homeland in June 1926. In secret he celebrated the sacraments with faithful Catholics and established hidden Stations of the Cross throughout Mexico City.
He was unjustly accused and arrested for the attempted assassination of a high ranking general. When word got out that Father Pro was captured, the actual hitman turned himself into authorities. The Mexican government however, wanted to make an example out of Blessed Miguel as a warning to all who continued to worship and practice their religion even in secret. The priest was led in front of a great crowd to be shot dead with photographers there ordered to publicize the execution. Blessed Miguel refused a blindfold, boldly stood before the firing squad with his arms outstretched like on a cross, and with his Rosary in one hand and a crucifix in his other he yelled, “Vivo Cristo Rey (Long live Christ the King)!”
More than 40,000 lined the streets for his funeral.
May the confident faith of Blessed Miguel embolden our hearts so that we in every trial, choice and moment proclaim with your words and actions that Christ truly reigns now and forever.
The art with this article is by Spanish artist Raul Berzosa.
