Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro

Miguel was the son of a mining engineer. From childhood he was known for high spirits and cheerfulness, and he grew up in a pious home.  Born to privilege, he had great affinity for the poor and working classes. He was afflicted with a recurring stomach disorder. At the age of twenty, he entered the Jesuit novitiate. When the Jesuits were exiled during the Mexican Revolution, he continued his studies abroad. He was ordained in Belgium in 1925 at the age of thirty-six and returned to Mexico in 1926, a time when churches were closed, priests were in hiding, and persecution of the Church was government policy. Father Miguel used disguises to conduct an underground ministry, bringing the comfort of charity and the sacraments to the covert faithful. He was falsely accused in 1927 of a bombing attempt and was marked as a wanted man. He was betrayed to the police and, without trial, he was sentenced to death. The photograph on this page was taken on the day of his martyrdom. As he was about to be shot, he forgave his executioners, refused a blindfold, and died shouting “Long live Christ the King.” The government prohibited a public funeral, but the faithful lined the streets when his body passed. His feast day is November 23.