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José Luis Sánchez del Río was the third of four children born to a devout Catholic family of cattle ranchers. From his earliest years, he displayed a deep love for God, regularly attending Mass and developing a strong devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico's patroness. His family instilled in him the truths of the faith, and he grew up in an environment where prayer, the sacraments, and love for the Church were central. Even as a child, José expressed a longing for deeper union with Christ, reportedly praying from around age 13 for the grace of martyrdom—a desire that would tragically come to pass.
The backdrop to José's martyrdom was the Cristero War (1926–1929), a violent conflict sparked by the Mexican government's aggressive enforcement of anti-clerical laws. Under President Plutarco Elías Calles, who took office in 1924, the government sought to suppress the influence of the Catholic Church in line with the 1917 Mexican Constitution's restrictions on religion. Churches were closed, religious schools and convents seized, priests exiled or executed, and public worship severely restricted. Catholics who resisted were labeled "Cristeros" (from "Cristo Rey," meaning "Christ the King"), and they rose up in armed rebellion to defend their religious freedom. The war pitted devout Catholics—often landowners, ranchers, and ordinary faithful—against federal forces determined to eradicate what they saw as clerical influence.
José was just 12 when the Cristero War began in 1926. As the persecution intensified, with churches shuttered and priests forced underground, many in Sahuayo, including José's older brothers, joined the Cristero cause. José, burning with zeal, begged his mother to allow him to participate. He pleaded, "Mama, do not let me lose the opportunity to gain Heaven so easily so soon," and declared, "In order to go to heaven, we have to go to war... Never has it been so easy to obtain Heaven." After persistent pleading, his mother relented, and the Cristero general—initially reluctant due to José's youth—permitted him to join as a flag-bearer. Among the Cristeros, he earned the nickname "Tarcisius," after the early Christian boy saint who died protecting the Eucharist from desecration.
José served courageously, carrying the flag and supporting the troops in non-combat roles suited to his age. In one notable incident during a fierce battle, the general's horse was shot out from under him. Without hesitation, young José offered his own horse, insisting, "Take my horse and save yourself. You’re the general, and what am I worth to the cause?" The general accepted, and José's selfless act allowed the leader to escape. This moment exemplified José's maturity, humility, and dedication to the cause greater than himself.
Tragedy struck when José was captured by government forces in early 1928. Imprisoned in Sahuayo, he endured brutal torture as his captors attempted to break his spirit and force him to renounce his faith. They demanded he shout "Death to Christ the King!" or deny Christ to save his life. Despite the pain, José remained steadfast, repeatedly proclaiming "Viva Cristo Rey!" ("Long live Christ the King!") and "Viva la Virgen de Guadalupe!" ("Long live the Virgin of Guadalupe!").
His tormentors escalated the cruelty. They cut the soles of his feet with machetes or knives, forcing him to walk barefoot over rough ground to his execution site at the local cemetery. Screaming in agony, José left bloody footprints behind him, yet he continued to cry out his faith, refusing to apostatize. At the gravesite, he was made to dig his own grave. When knocked to his knees, he used his own blood to draw a cross on the ground—a final act of devotion. The soldiers then stabbed and cut him repeatedly with machetes before shooting him multiple times at point-blank range until he died. Throughout, he forgave his executioners and prayed for his family to do the same. His last words included a message for his father: "We’ll see each other in heaven."
José's martyrdom was not just a personal tragedy but a political statement by the authorities to crush dissent and religious fervor in the region. His body was buried in the cemetery where he died. Remarkably, his remains were later exhumed and found to be in an extraordinary state of preservation, incorrupt—a sign often associated with sanctity in Catholic tradition. Witnesses noted that despite the violent wounds, his body showed minimal decay, inspiring awe among those who viewed it. In 1945, his remains were transferred to the Shrine of the Sacred Heart in Sahuayo after repairs to the church. By 1996, they were moved to the parish church of Saint James the Apostle in Sahuayo, where they are enshrined above a side altar in a wooden coffin, visible to pilgrims. This incorruption served as an early sign of his holiness and contributed to devotion toward him.
The Church's recognition of José's sanctity followed a careful process. Pope St. John Paul II declared him a martyr. He was beatified by Pope Benedict XVI on November 20, 2005, in Guadalajara, Mexico. For canonization, a miracle was required. Pope Francis approved one on January 21, 2016: the inexplicable healing of a baby girl from Sahuayo who had been near death, with doctors offering no medical explanation after prayers to Blessed José. This miracle paved the way for his canonization on October 16, 2016, in St. Peter's Square, Vatican City, alongside other saints. He is now venerated as the patron of persecuted Christians, children, adolescents, and his hometown of Sahuayo.
While specific widespread miracles beyond the canonization one are not always detailed in public records (as many are personal and investigated privately), devotion to Saint José has grown, with reports of graces received through his intercession, especially among youth facing challenges to their faith and Christians under persecution. His story, popularized in part by the film For Greater Glory (which features a character inspired by him), continues to inspire courage in living out one's beliefs boldly.
Saint José Sánchez del Río reminds us that holiness is not reserved for the old or powerful but can shine brilliantly in the young. His refusal to reject Christ, even under unimaginable torture, echoes the early martyrs and challenges us to prioritize faith above comfort or safety.
A Prayer to Saint José Sánchez del Río
O Saint José Sánchez del Río,
young martyr of Christ the King,
you who at the tender age of fourteen
chose eternal life over earthly safety,
and proclaimed "Viva Cristo Rey!" amid torture and death,
teach us your unwavering courage.
Intercede for all persecuted Christians,
for youth tempted to compromise their faith,
and for those facing trials that test their love for God.
Help us to draw strength from your example,
to forgive our enemies as you did,
and to offer our sufferings in union with Christ's cross.
Through your intercession, may we grow in devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe
and remain faithful until the end.
Saint José Sánchez del Río, pray for us!
Viva Cristo Rey! Viva la Virgen de Guadalupe!
Amen.
Sources
- Wikipedia: José Sánchez del Río (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/José_Sánchez_del_Río)
- Catholic Online: St. José Luis Sánchez del Río (catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=46079)
- National Catholic Register: 5 Things to Know About St. José Luis Sánchez del Río (ncregister.com/blog/5-things-to-know-about-st-jose-luis-sanchez-del-rio)
- Marians of the Immaculate Conception: North American Sanctity: St. José Sánchez del Rio (marian.org/articles/north-american-sanctity-st-jose-sanchez-del-rio)
- Various Catholic diocesan and parish sites detailing his life, martyrdom, and canonization (e.g., Diocese of Corpus Christi, St. Ann Parish)
- Accounts from beatification and canonization processes via Vatican announcements and Catholic News Agency references.
