And more martyrs and beatifications: Martyrs of Quiche, Guatamala.

Not quite the expected iconography!

Previously (last April) there was a notification about the beatification of our MSC Martyrs and 7 indigenous laity from Quiché (Guatemala). The beatification was confirmed for December 4, 2020.

However, this week there was a Facebook posting from Julio Chevalier: MSC Martyrs of Quiché. The beatification of our martyr brothers and the seven catechists of Quiché will be on April 23, 2021. Let's THANK GOD

Here are the details of the martyrs.

The Prefect of the Congregation for the Cause of Saints will be the representative of Pope Francis to preside over the Beatification. The celebration will be held in Santa Cruz de Quiché, Guatemala.

Here are their stories:

It was engendered by poverty, racism, social differences, oppression, corruption, lack of work. It began with demonstrations, turned into confrontations between guerrillas and the army, grew into an "undeclared civil war" and led to a cruel persecution of the Catholic Church in several of the departments. Among them, the department of El Quiché in the west of the Republic of Guatemala suffered the most from this persecution. Not without reason did the bishop-poet Pedro Casaldáliga write:

Put on your wedding clothes,

You, the most martyr of all,

Santa Iglesia de Quiché.

Thousands of Catholics, especially catechists, were killed at that time. It was enough to have a Catholic bible or a rosary or to dedicate oneself to helping others for one to be classified as a guerrilla member, and, therefore a prisoner of death. Among the multitude of those killed for their faith, their living the Gospel, their service to the most needy and for trying to live like Jesus, ten people were chosen to begin their process of beatification. It was an arduous task that took more than 10 years. And we hope that they will not be the last. Three Missionary Priests of the Sacred Heart, pastoral agents of the diocese of Quiché, with seven of their catechists form the initial group of the martyrs of El Quiché.

Pope Francis decreed on January 23, 2020, that these three Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, together with seven of their Mayan catechists from El Quiché, could be counted among the number of the blessed of the Church.

These will be the first of the indigenous races, declared blessed in Central America.

May their example stimulate us to follow Jesus with ever greater joy and fidelity, revealing to us the love of God, for which these brothers; gave their lives.