Blessed
Martyrs of Lérida (John of Jesus and 4 Companions)
Biography
In July 1936, when the religious persecution began during the Spanish civil war, Father John of Jesus and the other four friars were in Lleida. The first few days they hid in the orchards near the convent, assisted by some friends and supporters. They decided to move to the nearby town of Alcarràs to seek a safe haven. But as soon as they began to move, they met a group of the armed party, who asked them to identify themselves and confess their belonging to the friars of St. Teresa. After doing so, they were immediately killed. It was July 25, 1936.
The decree of martyrdom was promulgated on June 3, 2013. The beatification ceremony was held on October 13, 2013.
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
