Prayer to Saint José Sánchez del Río — Cristero martyr at fourteen

Mexican teenager, born in Sahuayo (Michoacán) on 28 March 1913. He insisted on joining the Cristeros to defend the freedom of the Church during the persecution under the government of Calles, and was captured in January 1928. Under torture — the soles of his feet were skinned and he was forced to walk to the cemetery — he refused to apostatise to the very end, repeating the Cristero cry: “¡Viva Cristo Rey y Santa María de Guadalupe!”. He was killed by bayonet thrusts and gunshots on 10 February 1928, at fourteen years of age. Beatified by Benedict XVI on 20 November 2005, and canonised by Pope Francis on 16 October 2016. Feast: 10 February.

Lord God, who gave to Saint José Sánchez del Río, while still a boy, the palm of martyrdom and the crown of the victors, for having professed and defended with his blood the faith in Christ King of the universe and the love of the Virgin of Guadalupe: grant us, through his intercession, the grace to be strong in faith, sure in hope and constant in charity, so that, whatever the hour or the age of the trial, we may know how to repeat with him: “Long live Christ the King and Holy Mary of Guadalupe!”. Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be.