Sarah Mitchell
The Cristero War, also known as the Cristeros War, was a conflict in Mexico in the 1920s between the government and Catholic peasants who took up arms to fight for religious freedom. The war resulted in the deaths of many Catholics, including priests and peasants who were executed or killed for their involvement in the rebellion. While the exact number of Catholic deaths is unknown, it is believed that thousands of Catholics died during the Cristero War, with some estimates placing the number at 50,000. Additionally, the war produced many religious refugees, some of whom fled to El Paso, where new seminaries and monasteries were established to support the persecuted. The conflict also led to the canonization of Catholic martyrs, including Saint Christopher Magallanes, who was arrested and executed during this period.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the war | Christeros War, Cristero War |
| Location | Mexico |
| Time period | 1920s |
| Number of Catholic martyrs | 25 |
| Number of Catholics who took up arms | 50,000 |
| Catholic saints and martyrs | Saint Christopher Magallanes and Companions, Luis Padilla Gomez |
| Catholic priests executed | Pope John Paul II canonized 25 priests |
| Catholic refugees | Many, some came to El Paso |
| Catholic supporters executed | Mexican Association for Catholic Youth members |
| Catholic soldiers killed | Fr. Cruz, Fr. Orona |
| Estimated number of Catholics killed by the Catholic Church in the Middle Ages | 50 million |
| Estimated number of victims of the Papacy in the Middle Ages | 50-68 million |
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What You'll Learn
The Cristero War in Mexico
The Cristero War, also known as the Cristero Rebellion or La Cristiada, was a conflict in Mexico between Catholics and the state. It lasted from 3 August 1926 to 21 June 1929 and resulted in tens of thousands of deaths. The war was a response to the Mexican government's enforcement of secularist and anti-clerical articles of the 1917 Constitution, known as the Calles Law.
The Calles Law sought to limit the power of the Catholic Church and suppress popular religiosity. It included measures such as the expropriation of Church property, the outlawing of religious education, and the expulsion of foreign-born clergy. In response to these policies, Catholic peasants, soldiers, and freedom fighters in central and western Mexico rose up against the government, supported by the Church hierarchy and urban Catholic supporters. They became known as "Cristeros", from their battle cry "¡Viva Cristo Rey!" ("Long Live Christ the King!")".
The Cristeros faced significant challenges, including divisions within their ranks and a lack of logistical supplies. However, they found support from female Catholic activists, who formed groups such as the Feminine Brigades of St. Joan of Arc to provide money, weapons, provisions, and information to the combatant men. By March 1928, some 10,000 women were involved in the struggle, with many smuggling weapons into combat zones.
The Mexican government, led by President Plutarco Elías Calles, received military support from the United States. American pilots provided air support for the federal army, and the Calles government was supplied with arms and ammunition. Despite this, the Cristeros managed to hold their own against rural and local militias, only being defeated by regular federal troops guarding the main cities.
The war ultimately claimed the lives of about 90,000 people, including 30,000 Cristeros and 56,882 federals, as well as numerous civilians who were killed in anticlerical raids after the war. The conflict ended in 1929 with concessions from the government, and the Church withdrew its support for the Cristero fighters. However, the war left a lasting impact on Mexico, and the persecution of Catholic priests continued in several localities.
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50,000 Catholic peasants fought
The Cristero War, also known as the Cristiada, was a conflict in Mexico that took place between 1926 and 1929. It was a response to the anti-clerical laws implemented by President Plutarco Elías Calles, which sought to enforce a secular education system and suppress Catholic education. This led to tens of thousands of Catholic soldiers, known as "Cristeros," engaging in bloody guerrilla battles against federal forces. The Cristeros were primarily made up of peasants, but they also included middle-class urban Catholics, particularly in Guadalajara and Mexico City. Women participated as well, mostly as spies and arms smugglers.
The Cristeros fought under the battle cry "¡Viva Cristo Rey!" ("Long Live Christ the King!"). They were aware of the sympathy their struggle would generate among Catholics worldwide, so they produced and circulated vivid images of martyrdom that spread beyond Mexico's borders. The conflict resulted in the deaths of many Cristeros, including priests who were executed for carrying out their ministry despite the anti-clerical laws. Pope John Paul II later canonized a group of 25 saints and martyrs who perished in the war.
The Cristeros faced divisions within their ranks and the challenge of an extended period without a place of worship. They also encountered military persecution by Calles, which was officially condemned by Mexican President Lázaro Cárdenas and the Mexican Congress in 1935. Between 1935 and 1936, Cárdenas had Calles and his close associates arrested and exiled. The Cristero War had a significant impact on emigration, with many Cristeros fleeing to the United States, forming substantial communities in cities like Los Angeles.
The exact number of Catholic peasants among the Cristeros who fought in the Cristero War is not explicitly stated. However, it is known that the Cristeros included a significant number of peasants, and the overall number of Cristeros was substantial, with some estimates placing them as high as 5% of Mexico's population. The Cristeros were engaged in intense guerrilla battles, and the war left a lasting impact on Mexico's political and religious landscape.
In conclusion, while the specific number of 50,000 Catholic peasants fighting in the Cristero War may not be verifiable, it is clear that a substantial number of Catholic peasants were involved in this conflict, which had far-reaching consequences in Mexico and beyond. The Cristeros' struggle against the state's enforcement of secular education and suppression of Catholic practices resulted in widespread violence and martyrdom, leaving an enduring mark on the country's history.
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Catholic priests were executed
During the Cristero War, Catholic priests were executed for carrying out their ministry despite the suppression under the anti-clerical laws of President Plutarco Elías Calles. The conflict, which lasted from 1926 to 1929, saw the Mexican government enforce the anti-Catholic Articles of the 1857 constitution, which had been included in the 1917 constitution. This period of religious persecution led to the deaths of many Catholics, with an estimated 50,000 men from various socioeconomic backgrounds taking up arms against the government.
One notable martyr of the Cristero War was Saint Christopher Magallanes, who was arrested on May 21, 1927, for supporting the Christeros—a group of peasant Catholics who opposed the government's anti-Catholic oppression. Four days after his arrest, Father Magallanes was shot to death without receiving a trial. His last words were recorded as, "I am innocent and die innocent. I absolve with all my heart those who seek my death and ask God that my blood bring peace to a divided Mexico." Father Magallanes was canonized as a saint by Pope John Paul II on May 21, 2000, along with 24 other martyrs of the Cristero War.
Another priest who was executed during this time was Padre Pro, whose public execution was used by Calles as a warning to other priests who participated in politics. Padre Pro was invited to celebrate Mass at a farm for his clandestine parishioners but was arrested on his way there. He was shot at the police station, where reporters were also invited to witness the execution.
Father Miguel de la Mora of Colima was also executed during the Cristero War. He publicly opposed the anti-religious laws imposed by the government and was arrested and shot without a trial by a military officer while praying his rosary.
Rodrigo Aguilar Alemán, a priest and literary writer, was yet another victim of the religious persecution during the Cristero War. Rather than escape when soldiers arrived at the seminary where he was hiding, Father Alemán chose to stay and burn the list of seminary students to protect their identities. He was arrested and led to the main plaza of Ejutla for execution by hanging the next day. Like the other priests, he blessed his captors and forgave them before his death.
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Religious refugees fled to El Paso
The Cristero War, also known as Mexico's War Over Catholicism, was a conflict between Catholics and the Mexican state that resulted in the deaths of many Catholic soldiers and priests. While an exact number of Catholic casualties is unknown, it is known that 25 Catholic priests were canonized as saints after they were martyred during the war. The war also resulted in a wave of religious refugees fleeing Mexico.
One notable group of religious refugees who fled to El Paso, Texas, were the Latter-day Saints, also known as Mormons. In 1912, followers of General Pascual Orozco made life unbearable for the Mormons living in Mexico, demanding supplies and weapons and murdering some of them. In July of that year, a subordinate of Orozco demanded the Mormons' guns and ammunition but refused to protect them. As a result, the leaders of the Mormon colonies decided to send the women and children to El Paso by train for their protection.
In addition to the Mormons, El Paso has also received other religious refugees from Mexico. For example, Ruben Garcia, the director of a church-based shelter called Annunciation House, has been providing services to migrants and asylum seekers in El Paso for over 40 years. El Paso has also been a focal point for Mexican migration to the U.S. for decades, with many Mexican Catholics fleeing to the U.S. due to the Cristero War.
The impact of religious refugees on El Paso has been significant. The Mormon refugees who settled in El Paso contributed to the growth of the Mormon community in the city, which is now estimated to have 9,000 members. Additionally, religious organizations in El Paso have played a crucial role in providing support and shelter to migrants and asylum seekers. For example, the Catholic Diocese of El Paso, through its ministry Estrella del Paso, has provided free immigration legal services to tens of thousands of migrants and refugees in West Texas and New Mexico since 1986.
Overall, the story of religious refugees fleeing to El Paso is a testament to the resilience and charity of those seeking refuge and the compassion and collaboration of those providing support. It demonstrates the positive impact that effective coordination and strong cross-border collaborations between organizations and government actors can have on refugee reception and integration.
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Saint Christopher Magallanes was killed
Saint Christopher Magallanes, born Cristóbal Magallanes Jara, was a Mexican Catholic priest and martyr. He was born in San Rafael, Totatiche, Jalisco, Mexico, on July 30, 1869, and was ordained at the age of 30 in 1899. He served as a chaplain and teacher in Guadalajara before becoming the parish priest in his hometown, where he remained for over two decades.
During his ministry, Father Magallanes not only tended to the spiritual needs of his parishioners but also addressed their intellectual and material needs. He founded schools, opened a carpentry shop to provide local employment, and assisted in planning hydrological works to improve the town's infrastructure. He also preached the Gospel to the indigenous people of the region.
In 1926, a small army of Catholic peasants, calling themselves the "Cristeros" or "followers of Christ," rose up against the Mexican government to regain religious freedom. Father Magallanes did not support armed rebellion, but he was falsely accused of promoting the Cristero Rebellion. On May 21, 1927, he was arrested while en route to celebrate Mass at a farm. Four days later, on May 25, he was shot to death without receiving a trial.
His last words were a testament to his innocence and his desire for peace in Mexico: "I die innocent, and ask God that my blood may serve to unite my Mexican brethren." He forgave his executioners and gave them absolution. Saint Christopher Magallanes was canonized by Pope John Paul II on May 21, 2000, and his liturgical memorial day is observed on May 21 in the Latin Catholic Church.
The story of Saint Christopher Magallanes is a reminder of the persecution faced by Catholics during the Cristero War and the courage and selflessness of those who stood firm in their faith, even at the cost of their lives.
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Frequently asked questions
Pope John Paul II canonized 25 Catholic martyrs of the Cristero War on May 21, 2000. However, it is unknown how many other Catholics died during the war.
The Cristero War, also known as the Mexican Cristero War, led to the persecution of many Catholics, who subsequently became religious refugees. Some of these refugees fled to El Paso, where they founded new seminaries and monasteries.
Saint Christopher Magallanes and his companions were martyred on May 21, 1927, during the Cristero War.
