Cristero martyrs show importance of religious freedom in Mexico

Lourdes Varguez Garcia is the granddaughter of one of the many Catholics who defended their faith during rampant religious persecution in Mexico from 1917-1925.

Now a nun living in Rome, she has called on Mexicans to live consistently with the gift of faith that the Cristero martyrs gave to the country.

In an interview with CNA, Sister Lourdes explained that at the time, “not celebrating Christ was unthinkable to many Mexicans.”

At the age of 18, her grandfather, Romualdo Varguez Gamboa, lived through one of the most difficult periods in the history of the Church in Mexico. The government outlawed any type of religious expression or celebration, closed all the churches and persecuted the clergy.

Romualdo was arrested for being Catholic on three occasions. He saw his home destroyed and he was even tortured with electrical shocks. A member of Catholic Action in Mexico, he was detained alongside three of his friends.

“They were tied up and subjected to electrical shocks to force them to reveal where they were having their next meetings or Masses in order to surprise them in the act,” Sister Lourdes said. “They wanted him to reveal names and information, but they wouldn’t say anything.”

She said Romualdo also went to prison for convening religious meetings at private homes. “They were the messengers, and they had to be sure the police did not find out,” she explained.

Romualdo was a catechist, and when the parishes were closed, he continued to teach the faith in secret. [More]

SOURCE

CNA