| Admin_History | José Ramón Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez also Blessed Miguel Pro
Pro was born in Guadalupe de Zacatecas on 13 January 1891. He joined the Jesuit novitiate at El Llano 15 August 1911 and studied in Mexico until 1914 when the government began its anti-Catholic pogroms forcing Jesuits to flee to Los Gatos, California. (See 1917 Constitution of Mexico, Articles 24, 27 and 130 for specific restrictions on Catholics and Clerics.) Pro continued his study in Granada, Spain (1915 – 1919) before teaching in Nicaragua (1919 – 1922). He undertook his theological studies in Enghien, Belgium and was ordained on 31 August 1925.
Pro’s first assignment as a priest was with the miners of Charleroi, Belgium. Pro was popular because of his humour and ability to speak on spiritual subjects thoughtfully. He returned to Mexico in 1926 but was forced to celebrate the Eucharist clandestinely because of the political situation. He used a childhood nickname, Cocol, on his letters and writing in an attempt to remain anonymous. Pro used costumes (mechanic, bus driver, dandy) to disguise himself.
In October 1926, Pro was arrested but released the next day and kept under surveillance. In
November 1927, Pro was arrested for the attempted assassination of Álvaro Obregón Salido (then President of Mexico). On 23 November 1927 Pro was executed without trial. Plutarco Calles, the new President of Mexico believed the detailed photographs of the execution would frighten the rebels into submission, however they had the opposite effect.
At his execution Pro declined a blindfold. His last words were recorded as “May God have mercy on you! May God bless you! Lord, Thou knowest that I am innocent! With all my heart I forgive my enemies.” The initial shots from the firing squad failed to kill Pro – a soldier shot him at point-blank range.
Pope John Paul II beatified Pro on 25 September 1988 in Saint Peter’s Square. |