Ultimately apprehended by the authorities, Father Miguel was sentenced to death. As he confronted the firing squad, Father Miguel’s final wish was not to beg for his survival but to offer a prayer. With his arms extended in a cross shape, clutching a crucifix with one hand and a rosary with the other, he courageously declared, “¡Viva Cristo Rey! ¡Viva la Virgen de Guadalupe!” His declaration, articulated with deep conviction, resonated like the appeals of Christian martyrs throughout the ages, declaring Christ as sovereign over all temporal powers. The president of Mexico aimed for his execution to stifle the Catholic faith; instead, it transformed into a rallying point, motivating thousands to persist in declaring their beliefs and commemorating him as a martyr.

Days prior to his passing, Father Miguel penned these lines: “If life becomes more difficult, love makes it more robust as well, and solely this love, rooted in suffering, is capable of bearing the Cross of my Lord Jesus Christ. Love devoid of selfishness, not depending on oneself, but igniting in the core of the heart a passionate desire to love and endure for everyone around us: a desire that neither adversity nor scorn can quench … I have faith, O Lord; yet bolster my belief.”

Today let us invoke for a growth in love “without selfishness” through the mediation of Blessed Miguel Agustín Pro:

Our God and Father, who bestowed upon your servant Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro the gift of passionately pursuing your greater glory and the salvation of others, grant, through his intercession and model, that by diligently and joyfully executing our daily responsibilities and genuinely helping those around us, we may serve you with fervor and continually seek your glory. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the communion of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.

My Daily Visitor spiritual reflections are a dose of daily Catholic inspiration from Our Sunday Visitor magazine.

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