Father miguel pro biography

The religious freedom maintained by the unfortunate Emperor had been undone by the republicans. Mexico would probably have remained a far less anticlerical nation had it not been for the introduction of Freemasonry by the first American consul, Joel Poinsett, who served in that post from His interest in rare flowers, which immortalized his name in the plant he introduced to the United States, the red-leafed poinsettia, was a strange diversion for one who was so steeped in subversive activity.

By , after much unrest and several revolutions, Porfirio Diaz gained the presidency by force, and for thirty-four years ruled as a relatively benevolent dictator. Catholics, that is, ninety-five percent of the people , were happier in those years under Diaz; for, during his regime, all anti-religious laws, though still on the books, were held in abeyance, and the Church flourished anew.

Nevertheless, Freemasonry continued its insidious campaign by cleverly manipulating its own candidates into high political positions and causing practicing Catholics to be removed from such offices. Diaz fell from power in This was due to the military advantage and popular support the Mexican soldiers and working people gave to Francisco Madero, whose rallying cry was for social reform.

Just two years after the was elected president, a military coup, led by General Victoriano Huerta, overthrew him. Madero was treacherously slain in prison. Under Huerta the Church was more free to preach the kingdom of God than it had been under his predecessor. After , when Huerta fell, the names of Venustiano Carranza, Alvaro Obregon, and Plutarco Calles, three successive dictators who launched openly anti-Catholic policies, will forever stain the pages of Mexican history.

It was under the last mentioned Calles, that a most fierce and bloody persecution of the Church ravaged the nation. In the years from he was responsible for the execution of one hundred and sixty priest and hundreds of lay men and women…and even children. He was jovial and good-humored. When he was a young boy, his mother once took him on her lap and told him about the martyrdom of a saintly Franciscan which had occurred many years before.

But that is too great a happiness for me. There were two occasions when little Miguel should have been taken to the world beyond, but was miraculously saved. I will relate just one. It happened that a certain Aztec woman, who idolized little Miguel, one time fed him a large quantity of fruit, not realizing that it was bad. As a result the small child was stricken with a very serious malady.

This tragic development caused the doctors to give up hope, saying that he would either die, or live on as an imbecile. For one whole year Miguel lived on, unable to speak, scarcely recognizing his beloved parents.

Father miguel pro biography

Finally his condition became acute and death was imminent. His father, who loved his son dearly, was beside himself with grief. In the dead silence that followed, the startled witnesses saw Miguel shudder convulsively, come out of his death trance, and vomit up a quantity of blood. A few days later he was completely restored to health, mentally and physically.

As the future martyr grew older, the playfulness that had marked his childhood developed into a sunny, jovial, and prankish, but personable disposition. This lightheartedness of his highlighted the evenings which all the members of his family spent at home in the Mexican family tradition. But he was at times also over-mischievous, and had more than once to be corrected by his father, who did not fail to use the strap.

On one such occasion, when Miguel was about five, his mother took him with her to the store. There the young boy made an awful scene, stubbornly insisting that his mother buy him a small white marble horse, even though she had already purchased other gifts for him. Senora Pro finally gave in and bought the ornament. When they arrived home, and Papa Pro heard what had happened, he not only gave Miguel the strap, but made him kneel before the family and ask pardon, In the end, the marble horse was placed on Mr.

Captivated by this display of uniforms and sound of drums, he was inspired to invent a game. He would play the part of a soldier who had been wounded on the battlefield while capturing the enemy flag. Then his older sister, Concepcion, had to take the role of a Sister of Charity who would come and dress his wound. Suddenly, while she was supporting him, a devastating blast would bring them both to a tragic end.

Though this was just a passing diversion, little did the young hero realize that he would one day lie riddled with bullets in a courtyard of Mexico City, slain as a soldier of Christ the King. The following year the Pro family was on the move again. This time it was to the rude mining center, Concepcion del Oro. This privileged town was to be the place of their most permanent residence.

The year was It was also the feastday of their mother Josefina. Heaven was watching the holy spectacle with a special interest as Fr. Correa, the parish priest, brought Our Lord for the first time to these dear little children. At that time no one could possibly know the destiny of that blessed foursome. But God had planned that each of them would glorify Him in a special way.

Two were marked for martyrdom: the priest, Fr. And two were marked as future brides of Christ. Even as a youngster Miguel had a wonderful insight into the simple truths of the Faith. This was once brought out in an amusing manner, typical of his forthright nature. It seems that the Pros had, for a period of time, employed a Protestant woman to tutor the children.

Once in a while they invited her to dine with the family. He said the Our Father and then followed with the Hail Mary. The teacher remained silent during the second prayer. Since it was highly recommended by friends, Don Miguel sent his son to this school. Previous to his decision to do so, he had been given the assurance by the rector that, although the college was not Catholic, all the boys would enjoy full freedom to practice their religion.

And on several successive Sundays, he was compelled to be present with all the pupils in the Protestant chapel. The indignant young Catholic wrote to his father to explain his plight, but the letter was intercepted by the school authorities without his knowledge. It is hard to believe that this could occur in a country ninety-five percent Catholic.

One Sunday, while thus detained, he heard a band passing by. Since music always attracted him, he ran to the front door and managed to raise himself high enough to peep out. Not far away he spied a family returning from what he rightly guessed was Mass. He called out to get their attention. Hearing his cry, two small daughters came over to see what the boy wanted.

He told them to please bring their mother. When the good Senora came over and heard his predicament, she was horrified and assured him that she would write to his father immediately to inform him of what was going on. Don Miguel, upon receipt of the message, hastened at once to Saltillo, and with much indignation demanded his son. There is no record of what Senor Pro actually said to the deceitful director, but we can well imagine.

The mother of the family, Josefina, was noted for her generous compassion for the sufferings of others, especially the sick and the poor. Often she used to leave the house, loaded with foods and medicines, and taking her children along with her, she would appear among the needy as an angel of mercy sent to console them. Compassion for the poor is proved by action, and such activity certainly indicates holiness.

Not without sacrifice, Senora Pro also established and maintained a free hospital to care for those who could not afford treatment. Sad to say, however, once the hospital began to flourish, the mayor of Concepcion del Oro laid down such unreasonable restrictions that it was impossible for Dona Josefa to continue her holy enterprise. Soon after the youngest son Roberto was born, their little daughter Josefina, who was only thirteen years old, fell desperately sick and was taken away to Paradise.

Though crushed with grief, the family, whose members were so close to each other, bore their cross nobly. But as Miguel got older, it became clearer that he was destined…for the altar? No, not for the altar. Rather for the stage. He was a perennial prankster. The owner of the house, somewhat perplexed, inquired about the purpose of their visit.

Pointing to a hideous picture on the wall, Miguel declared that his sister, seeing it as they passed by, was charmed by it, and wanted to procure it. The man replied that, although the picture was an original masterpiece, he would part with it for no less than five hundred dollars. The young entrepreneur pondered aristocratically over the offer; then, abruptly, he told the stranger that he must first consult his parents, and, giving a fictitious address, escorted his mortified sister to the street.

That was Miguel Pro! One day, returning from a hunting trip, young Pro decided to beat his companions home by taking a shortcut along the railroad tracks. As he hustled along, he slipped, and to his chagrin, he caught his foot between the rails. Suddenly, a huge freight train appeared down the line, bearing rapidly towards him. Then he called upon Mary Immaculate with all his heart, promising works of sacrifice in her honor, should she deliver him from this terrible danger.

Instantly, as he jerked his leg, the boot ripped off from its sole, and the grateful young man ran to safety. Later on, at home, he told everyone that he had felt the imminent approach of death, and had even imagined himself in Purgatory. Ever since, she is my own Lady. The road to sanctity for most people is seldom a straight one. Some fall and bounce back.

Some fall again and again, and bounce back. Though Miguel Pro can hardly be classified as a repentant sinner in the same way that a St. Augustine could, he did, for a brief period, deviate from the narrow road. When he was eighteen years old, he went through a state of carelessness in the practice of his religion. At this time he was dating a pretty senorita who happened to be a non-Catholic.

The courtship terminated in a most amusing, but embarrassing manner. Of course, what happened was all in the Providence of God. It seems that the lad once wrote two letters — one to this mother — the other to the young lady. However, he sent them to the wrong persons. When his mother received the letter intended for the non-Catholic girl, she was overcome with grief, and became ill.

In the letter he explained beautifully how God had touched his heart; how grace had returned to tranquilize his soul; how he was about to make a good confession and receive Holy Communion. Unfortunately for the young senorita but fortunately for her caballero this was not the kind of romantic dandy that she was looking for; so she curtly returned the letter to its puzzled sender along with some gifts that he had given her.

Stanley Rother. Great Britain and Ireland. United States. Society of Sisters Philadelphia nativist riots Ursuline Convent riots. Lorenzo Ruiz Pedro Calungsod Gomburza. Murder of Andrea Santoro. North Korea. Catholic Church in North Korea. Anti-Catholicism in Norway. Historical background [ edit ]. Childhood [ edit ]. Jesuit life in Mexico, persecution, exile abroad, and ordination [ edit ].

Christogram of the Jesuits. Return to Mexico [ edit ]. Arrest and execution [ edit ]. Beatification [ edit ]. References [ edit ]. Lexington Books. ISBN Boston College. Montreal: The Messenger press. ProQuest The New York Times. The Collected Edition: The lawless roads. William Heinemann and the Bodley Head. Dominic, M. Lewis Jr. Typis polyglottis vaticanis.

January External links [ edit ]. Wikimedia Commons has media related to Miguel Pro. Wikiquote has quotations related to Miguel Pro. Persecution of Christians Anti-Christian sentiment. New Testament. Agrippa I. Category Commons Portal. Portals : Saints Biography Catholicism Mexico. Authority control databases. Trove DDB. The brothers decided it would be safer to leave Mexico for the United States, but before they could depart, police surrounded the house where they were staying and arrested all three Pro brothers.

The actual mastermind of the plot, Luis Segura, turned himself into the police when he heard that Father Pro had been arrested and blamed for the attempt. President Calles wanted to make an example out of the Jesuit even though the one actually responsible for the crime was in custody. On Nov. Soldiers escorted the unsuspecting Jesuit priest into the prison yard the morning of Nov.

When he saw the spectators and the firing squad, he asked for a few moments to pray, and then refused the blindfold when it was offered. Holding his rosary in his hand, he stood in front of the bullet-chipped wall and stretched his arms out in the form of a cross. When the order came to fire, he cried out, ""Vivo Cristo Rey! Long live Christ the King.

Pro walked from his cell to the courtyard and the firing squad, he blessed the soldiers, knelt, and briefly prayed quietly. Declining a blindfold, he faced his executioners with a crucifix in one hand and a rosary in the other and held his arms out in imitation of the crucified Christ and shouted out,. May God bless you! Lord, Thou knowest that I am innocent!

With all my heart I forgive my enemies! Before the firing squad was ordered to shoot, Pro raised his arms in imitation of Christ and shouted,. Calles had the execution photographed, and the newspapers throughout the country carried photos on the front page the following day. Presumably, Calles thought that the sight of the pictures would frighten the Cristero rebels who were fighting against his troops, particularly in the state of Jalisco.

However, they had the opposite effect. Another 20, waited at the cemetery where he was buried without a priest present, his father saying the final words.