St. Jose Sanchez del Rio

Month of Saints - Day 11

For Veteran's Day, I like to choose one of the Patron Saints of the Military, but I think I have covered most of the well known ones over the last few years.  So today, I chose a recently canonized Saint with a tragic military connection.

St. Jose Sanchez del Rio was only 13 years old when the Christero War broke out in Mexico.  (The Cristero War began when the government began eliminating church privileges and seizing church properties throughout the country,) Jose's brothers joined the rebel forces, but his mother would not allow him to take part. The rebel general, Prudencio Mendoza, also refused his enlistment. The boy insisted that he wanted the chance to give his life for Christ and so come to heaven more easily.  The general finally relented and Jose became the flag bearer for the troop.

During heavy fighting, the general's horse was killed and Jose gave him his own horse so that he could continue fighting.  Jose sought cover, but was eventually captured and imprisoned in the sacristy of a local church. The government forces ordered him to denounce his faith in Christ, or face death.  He refused to accept apostasy.  To break his resolve, he was made to watch the hanging of another Cristero that they had in custody, but instead José encouraged the man, saying that they would soon meet again in Heaven after death. Jose prayed the rosary daily and wrote to his mother that he was ready to fulfill the will of God.

Failing to break the young Christer's resolve, on the evening of February 10, 1928, his captors cut the bottom of his feet and made him walk around town toward the cemetery.  They also cut him several times with a machete until he was bleeding from several wounds. At times they stopped him and said, 'If you shout, "Death to Christ the King" we will spare your life'. José would only shout, 'I will never give in. Viva Cristo Rey!'" When they reached the place of execution, his captors stabbed him numerous times with bayonets. The commander was so furious that he pulled out his pistol and shot José in the head.

Moments before his death, the boy drew a cross in the dirt and kissed it.  St. Jose Sanchez del Rio was canonized by Pope Francis on October 16, 2016.  His feast day is February 10.