Blessed
Martyrs of Guadalajara (Maria Pilar of Saint Francis Borgia and 2 Companions)
Biography
Shortly after the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, the community of Discalced Carmelite nuns of the monastery of St. Joseph in Guadalajara dispersed and its members, in civilian clothes, had to seek refuge elsewhere.
On July 24, 1936, three nuns, Sister Mary of the Angels of St. Joseph, Sister Maria del Pilar of St. Francis Borgia and Sister Teresa of the Child Jesus and St. John of the Cross, were surprised by a group of militiamen, who fired on them as soon as they left the building where they had sought shelter.
The first died instantly and the second in hospital, while the third, initially escaped the firing, but was shot at the city cemetery. These three nuns were the first martyrs killed during the Spanish Civil War to be beatified.
The decree on martyrdom was promulgated on March 22, 1986. The beatification ceremony was held on March 29, 1987.
Procedure
1. The canonical norms concerning the procedure to be followed in the Causes of Saints are stated in the Apostolic Constitution Divinus Perfectionis Magister promulgated by John Paul II on 25 January 1983 (AAS LXXV, 1983, 349-355).
2. To initiate a Cause it is necessary that at least five years pass after the death of the candidate. This is to allow for greater balance and objectivity in the evaluation of the case and to allow the emotions of the moment to decant. There must be a clear conviction among people about his/her sanctity (fama sanctitas) and about the efficacy of his/her intercession with the Lord (fama signorum).
Iconography
