Blessed Miguel Augustín Pro, SJ

Feast Day: November 23

Born: January 13, 1891, in Guadalupe, Mexico
Died: November 23, 1927, in Mexico City, Mexico

Miguel Pro was born to a devout family in Guadalupe, Mexico, and entered the Jesuits in 1911. However, he was forced to flee to Granada, Spain, three years later due to religious persecution. In 1925, Miguel was ordained in Belgium.

After his ordination, Fr. Pro returned to Mexico where he served at a Church forced to worship clandestinely – celebrating the Eucharist and ministering other sacraments to small groups of Catholics in secret. With religious persecution still growing, Miguel and his brother Roberto were arrested amid false accusations of attempting to assassinate Mexico’s president. Although his brother was spared, Miguel was sentenced to face a firing squad.

Miguel was executed on November 23, 1927. His final words were ” ¡Viva Cristo Rey!” or “Long live Christ the King!”

Miguel Pro was beatified in 1988.