The Spanish Civil War resulted in the murder of numerous priests, nuns and religious. According to this article, by the 1930’s there 1,000 monasteries and 4,000 convents in Spain. In addition, there were 60,000 women religious, 20,000 male religious, and 60,000 diocesan priests.
Today is the feast day of one of the Martyrs of the Spanish Civil War — Blessed Salvio Huix Mirapleix. Here’s a short biography presented by Magnificat:
[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]As an Oratorian priest, Father Salvio Huix Miralpeix, of Santa Margherita de Vellors, Spain, was a zealous preacher, retreat master, catechist, seminary professor, writer, and promoter of Marian associations. At the age of forty-nine, he was consecrated bishop of Ibiza. In 1935 Bishop Huix Miralpeix was transferred to Lerida. He was in Barcelona when in July of 1936 the Spanish Civil War began. A porter offered to hide Bishop Huix Miralpeix from the troops of the anti-Catholic Popular Front, but the bishop declined his invitation, unwilling to endanger the lives of the porter and his family. Instead, the bishop went to the Popular Front troops and revealed his identity. They immediately imprisoned him. Bishop Huix Miralpeix spiritually assisted the other Catholic prisoners, distributing Holy Communion to them from hosts that a priest had smuggled into the jail. On August 5, 1936, the prisoners were brought to a cemetery to face a firing squad. Bishop Huix Miralpeix gave his companions absolution, and asked to be the last to die in order that he might encourage and bless each of them.[/pullquote]Today’s bishop is the visible source of unity in his diocese. He is responsible for the spiritual and even the physical care of those residing in his diocese. You might say that he rules his diocese as a portion of the universal Church. Without a doubt, Bishop Salvio Huix Miralpeix faithfully fulfilled the Office of Bishop in the Catholic Church. As a successor of the Apostles, he even took him the same road to Heaven that most of the Apostles walked upon — martyrdom.
Almighty and eternal God, who in your goodmess bestowed on the bishop and martyr Salvio Huix the gift of pastoral charity even to the point of shedding of his blood for Christ and his Church; bestow on us also the grace to work faithfully in your vineyard and to experience his intercession in this life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen
Collect, Mass for Feast of Bl. Salvio Huix Miralpeix