Today is Nov. 23, optional memorial of Blessed Miguel Agustín Pro, priest and martyr.
In the Gospel for today’s Mass, Jesus says, “That the dead will rise even Moses made known in the passage about the bush, when he called ‘Lord’ the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive” (Lk 20:37-38).
During a time of intense anti-Catholic sentiment in Mexico, when simply wearing a cross or attending Mass could lead to imprisonment or worse, Father Miguel Pro courageously returned to his homeland after being urged to remain safely abroad. He chose to risk his life to bring the sacraments to the Mexican people, many of whom were deprived of the sacraments. His compassion and determination led him to disguise himself as he moved through the streets, taking on various identities to evade capture, all to carry out his mission as a priest in secret. With every Mass he said and each confession he heard, Father Miguel was a hidden channel of God’s grace, nurturing the faith of countless people living in fear.
Eventually captured by authorities, Father Miguel was condemned to death. As he faced the firing squad, Father Miguel’s last request was not to plead for his life but to pray. With his arms outstretched in the form of a cross, holding a crucifix in one hand and a rosary in the other, he boldly proclaimed, “¡Viva Cristo Rey! ¡Viva la Virgen de Guadalupe!” His words, spoken with conviction, echoed the call of Christian martyrs throughout history, professing Christ as king above all earthly powers. The president of Mexico intended his death to suppress the Catholic faith;instead, it became a rallying cry, inspiring thousands to continue proclaiming their faith and honoring him as a martyr.
Days before his death, Father Miguel wrote these words: “If life be harder, love makes it also stronger, and only this love, grounded on suffering, can carry the Cross of my Lord Jesus Christ. Love without egotism, without relying on self, but enkindling in the depth of the heart an ardent thirst to love and suffer for all those around us: a thirst that neither misfortune nor contempt can extinguish … I believe, O Lord; but strengthen my faith.”
Today let us pray for an increase in love “without egotism” through the intercession of Blessed Miguel Agustín Pro:
Our God and Father, who conferred upon your servant Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro the grace of ardently seeking your greater glory and the salvation of others, grant, through his intercession and example, that by faithfully and joyfully performing our daily duties and effectively assisting those around us, we may serve you with zeal and ever seek your glory. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
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