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Fr. Miguel Agustin Pro (1891-1927), |
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„Viva Cristo Rey!“ Miguel was born in Mexico. He was the third of 11 siblings of the family of Mr Pro. At the age of 20 he entered the noviciate of the Jesuits at El Liano. In 1910 the civil war broke out in Mexico, the monastery was closed and Miguel was forced to continue his studies abroad. In 1925 at the age of 34 he was ordained a priest. During this time he suffered from a stomach sickness, which was diagnosed as incurable by the doctors. Fr. Pro was therefore sent back to Mexico, so that he could spend the last years of his life with his family in his native country. Returning home in 1926 he found Mexico in conflict between State and Church. The conflict worsened as Plutarco Elias Galles, a notorious Church-opponent, became president. His aim was the deification of the person of the president. More than 90% of the Mexicans were Catholics and the Church worked “underground” because she could not fulfill her mission openly. Fr. Pro eagerly performed his priestly duties. Despite the prohibition to dispense the sacraments, he helped the poor and deserted who were persecuted by the State. After being arrested twice because of his activities as preacher, he was sent to jail a third time for entirely “absurd” reasons. In November, 1927 an assassination on the former president Alvaro Obregon failed, but the assassins were caught in the car that once belonged to Miguel’s brother. The president ordered that both brothers be shot although he knew that they were innocent. On the morning of November 23, 1927 the order was executed. Fr. Miguel Pro stretched out his arms as if he were on a crucifix and called at the moment of his death: „Viva Cristo Rey!“ (“Long live Christ, the King“) and he added, “The cross is my weapon. With it I fear nothing.” His funeral became a demonstration of the Mexican Catholics against the ruling executers of the priest. On
September 25, 1988 Fr. Miguel Pro was beatified by John Paul II
– a man, whose only “crime” was his priesthood.
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