On 16 October 2016, Pope Francis canonized Blessed Jose Sanchez del Rio, alongside 6 other Blesseds. Cardinal Alberto Suarez Inda of Morelia, Mexico reflected on the life of Jose Sanchez del Rio. This is what he had to day:
“St. Jose Sanchez del Rio was born in Sahuayo de Morelos, Mexico in 1913. During the 1924-1928 religious persecution by Mexican President Plutarco Elías Calles, St. Jose became a Mexican Cristero, fighting against the anti-Catholic legislation.”
“At that time, the laws banned religious orders, deprived the Church of property rights and denied priests civil liberties, including the right to trial by jury and the right to vote. As the restrictions on religious liberty increased, Catholics could be fined or imprisoned for teaching Church doctrine, wearing clerical attire, meeting together after their convents were disbanded, promoting religious life or holding religious services in non-church locations.”
“At age 14, St. Jose was martyred by the Federal Army on Feb. 10, 1928. According to witness accounts, soldiers cut off the soles of his feet and forced him to walk barefoot to his grave.”
Although he was tortured, he refused to renounce his Catholic faith. Moments before he was killed, the teen shouted, “Viva Cristo Rey!” which means “Long live Christ the King!”
Cardinal Suarez pointed to the story of the young saint as an example of Christian courage.
“Jose Sanchez del Rio, who in a courageous, generous and determined way, preferred to die for Christ, longed for martyrdom as a grace; and now that Pope Francis is canonizing him today, we can certainly recognize that we have a great intercessor and a great example for youth,” he said.
Seeing heaven as an opportunity and refusing to turn back are a witness to us today that “what is truly worth most in life, more than money, is the treasure of our faith,” Cardinal Suarez said.
In his recent letter to the clergy of the Diocese of Lismore, Bishop Geoffrey Jarrett, said “it is not often a teenager is canonized by the Church but it happened again last week [16 October 2016] namely “St Jose Sanchez del Rio (1903-1928), the 14-year-old” and he encouraged his priests and deacons “to make useful mention to teenagers and others of this quite extraordinary story of heroism for the faith, for Christ and the Church.”