St. Turibio Romo

My dear Brothers and Sisters:
        In January, I wrote a brief series in the bulletin regarding the “Cristero War” in Mexico from 1926-1929. Since we had received the First-Class Relic of St. Jose Sanchez del Rio, I had written a brief explanation of his life and martyrdom along with an explanation of the veneration of holy relics. There were many Catholic men, women and youth who were executed as martyrs during the Cristero War as they refused to denounce the practice of their Catholic Faith. I pray that we are all motivated by their example to defend the beliefs and practices of the Catholic Faith in our own country today in which the Catholic Church is definitely under attack from a variety of groups and individuals. 
        In the year 2000, Pope John Paul II canonized twenty-five Mexican Martyrs including St. Jose Sanchez del Rio. Along with this martyred youth, one of the more well-known martyrs in this group was St. Toribio Romo who was one of the many priests martyred during the Cristero War. Here in the United States, St. Toribio Romo is one of the best-known martyrs canonized by Pope John Paul II. He is more revered by what he has done after his death than what he did while he lived. Over the past few decades, many Newspapers on both side of the border have recorded stories of this saint’s miraculous appearances to immigrants who get lost in the desert after crossing the Rio Grande River. The common elements in these stories is that a man in dark clothing appears out of nowhere just in time to save them from dying of thirst and hunger. He provides them with water, leads them to safety, or directs them to a place where they can find the help they need with water, food and/or work. His only request to those he helps is to visit him in his Church in Mexico in the village of Santa Ana. Those who have been able to return to Mexico and to visit the Church in Santa Ana have discovered a large Photo of this same priest who had saved them identified as St. Toribio Romo who was martyred back in 1928. 
        As so many of these stories have spread in both Mexico and in the United States, many families who have migrated here or who have loved-ones migrating from Mexico pray for protection through the intercession of St. Toribio. For this reason, I have obtained a First-Class relic of St. Toribio Romo for our own parish community to venerate his relic while praying for so many of our brothers and sisters who live in fear today due to immigration issues. In next Sunday’s bulletin, I will write more about the life and death of this holy martyr as well as mention the special events planned here in our parish for the veneration of the relics of St. Toribio.


Fr. Christopher Shackelford, pastor