Anacleto González Flores
Encyclopedia
Anacleto González Flores (July 13, 1888 – April 27, 1927) was a Mexican
Catholic layman
and lawyer, executed during the persecution of the Catholic Church under the presidency
of Plutarco Elías Calles
. He was beatified
by Benedict XVI as a martyr
on November 20, 2005.
who had begun what writer Graham Greene
called the "fiercest persecution of religion anywhere since the reign of Elizabeth."
, Anacleto began the study of law at Escuela Libre de Derecho
in Guadalajara, becoming an attorney in 1922.
Anacleto attended Mass
daily and engaged in numerous works of charity, including visiting prisoners and teaching catechism.
Originally Anacleto supported passive resistance against the government, having studied the methods of Gandhi. However, in 1926 upon learning of the murder of four members of the Catholic Association of Mexican Youth he joined the National League for the Defense of Religious Freedom, supporting the coming rebellion. He wrote, "the country is a jail for the Catholic Church...We are not worried about defending our material interests because these come and go; but our spiritual interests, these we will defend because they are necessary to obtain our salvation.
In January 1927, having endured religious persecution
, rebels began the Cristero War
. Anacleto did not take up arms but gave speeches, encouraging Catholics to support the Cristeros financially and with food, accommodation and clothing. He wrote pamphlets and gave speeches supporting the cause against the anticlerical government.
Seeking to quash the rebellion, the government sought capture of the leaders of the Popular Union and the National League for the Defence of Religious Freedom. Anacleto was captured and framed with charges that he has assassinated American Edgar Wilkens, when in fact the government knew that Wilkens had been murdered by his robber, Guadalupe Zuno. Anacleto was tortured, including being hung by his thumbs pulling them out of their sockets, having his shoulder fractured with a rifle butt and having the bottom of his feet slashed. On April 1, 1927, he was executed by firing squad. Echoing the words of assassinated Ecuadorian President, Gabriel García Moreno
, in defiance of the forces seeking to suppress his faith, Anacleto's last words were, "I die but God does not die!"
Wilkens' widow, who knew Anacleto had been framed, wrote a letter of protest to Washington exonerating him. A letter staying his execution arrived shortly after he was shot.
in the upcoming film Cristiada
, also starring Andy Garcia
, Eva Longoria
and Peter O'Toole
.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
Catholic layman
Laity
In religious organizations, the laity comprises all people who are not in the clergy. A person who is a member of a religious order who is not ordained legitimate clergy is considered as a member of the laity, even though they are members of a religious order .In the past in Christian cultures, the...
and lawyer, executed during the persecution of the Catholic Church under the presidency
President of Mexico
The President of the United Mexican States is the head of state and government of Mexico. Under the Constitution, the president is also the Supreme Commander of the Mexican armed forces...
of Plutarco Elías Calles
Plutarco Elías Calles
Plutarco Elías Calles was a Mexican general and politician. He was president of Mexico from 1924 to 1928, but he continued to be the de facto ruler from 1928–1935, a period known as the maximato...
. He was beatified
Beatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
by Benedict XVI as a martyr
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
on November 20, 2005.
Historical background
At the time of the killing of González Flores, Mexico was under rule of the fiercely anti-clerical and anti-Catholic President Plutarco Elías CallesPlutarco Elías Calles
Plutarco Elías Calles was a Mexican general and politician. He was president of Mexico from 1924 to 1928, but he continued to be the de facto ruler from 1928–1935, a period known as the maximato...
who had begun what writer Graham Greene
Graham Greene
Henry Graham Greene, OM, CH was an English author, playwright and literary critic. His works explore the ambivalent moral and political issues of the modern world...
called the "fiercest persecution of religion anywhere since the reign of Elizabeth."
Childhood
The second of twelve children born to the poor family of Valentín González Sanitiz and Maria Flores Navaho, Anacleto González Flores was baptized the day after his birth. A priest friend of the family recognized his intelligence and recommended him for the seminary where he excelled, earning the nickname "Maestro". After deciding he did not have a calling to holy ordersHoly Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
, Anacleto began the study of law at Escuela Libre de Derecho
Escuela Libre de Derecho
Escuela Libre de Derecho is a prestigious law school in Mexico. Founded in 1912, it has among its alumni some of the most distinguished Mexican attorneys...
in Guadalajara, becoming an attorney in 1922.
Career and Martyrdom
Anacleto became an activist and leader of the Catholic Association of Mexican Youth and founded the magazine La Palabra which attacked the anticlerical and Anti-Catholic articles of the Constitution of 1917. He was the founder and president of the Popular Union (UP), an organization to organize Catholics to resist the persection of the Church.Anacleto attended Mass
Mass
Mass can be defined as a quantitive measure of the resistance an object has to change in its velocity.In physics, mass commonly refers to any of the following three properties of matter, which have been shown experimentally to be equivalent:...
daily and engaged in numerous works of charity, including visiting prisoners and teaching catechism.
Originally Anacleto supported passive resistance against the government, having studied the methods of Gandhi. However, in 1926 upon learning of the murder of four members of the Catholic Association of Mexican Youth he joined the National League for the Defense of Religious Freedom, supporting the coming rebellion. He wrote, "the country is a jail for the Catholic Church...We are not worried about defending our material interests because these come and go; but our spiritual interests, these we will defend because they are necessary to obtain our salvation.
In January 1927, having endured religious persecution
Religious persecution
Religious persecution is the systematic mistreatment of an individual or group of individuals as a response to their religious beliefs or affiliations or lack thereof....
, rebels began the Cristero War
Cristero War
The Cristero War of 1926 to 1929 was an uprising and counter-revolution against the Mexican government in power at that time. The rebellion was set off by the strict enforcement of the anti-clerical provisions of the Mexican Constitution of 1917 and the expansion of further anti-clerical laws...
. Anacleto did not take up arms but gave speeches, encouraging Catholics to support the Cristeros financially and with food, accommodation and clothing. He wrote pamphlets and gave speeches supporting the cause against the anticlerical government.
Seeking to quash the rebellion, the government sought capture of the leaders of the Popular Union and the National League for the Defence of Religious Freedom. Anacleto was captured and framed with charges that he has assassinated American Edgar Wilkens, when in fact the government knew that Wilkens had been murdered by his robber, Guadalupe Zuno. Anacleto was tortured, including being hung by his thumbs pulling them out of their sockets, having his shoulder fractured with a rifle butt and having the bottom of his feet slashed. On April 1, 1927, he was executed by firing squad. Echoing the words of assassinated Ecuadorian President, Gabriel García Moreno
Gabriel García Moreno
Gabriel Gregorio Fernando José María García y Moreno y Morán de Buitrón was an Ecuadorian statesman who twice served as President of Ecuador and was assassinated during his second term, after being elected to a third term...
, in defiance of the forces seeking to suppress his faith, Anacleto's last words were, "I die but God does not die!"
Wilkens' widow, who knew Anacleto had been framed, wrote a letter of protest to Washington exonerating him. A letter staying his execution arrived shortly after he was shot.
Popular culture
Anacleto will be portrayed by actor Eduardo VerásteguiEduardo Verástegui
Eduardo Verástegui is a Mexican model, singer, and actor.- Biography :Verástegui was born in Mante, Tamaulipas, México and was raised as a devout Roman Catholic. He moved to Mexico City to pursue modeling, landing work with Calvin Klein among others...
in the upcoming film Cristiada
Cristiada (film)
Cristiada is a drama film and historic epic, currently in post-production, directed by Dean Wright and written by , based on the true story of the Cristero War . Although filmed in Mexico, it is in English...
, also starring Andy Garcia
Andy García
Andrés Arturo García Menéndez , professionally known as Andy García, is a Cuban American actor. He became known in the late 1980s and 1990s, having appeared in several successful Hollywood films, including The Godfather: Part III, The Untouchables, Internal Affairs and When a Man Loves a Woman...
, Eva Longoria
Eva Longoria
Eva Jacqueline Longoria is an American actress, best known for portraying Gabrielle Solis on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives...
and Peter O'Toole
Peter O'Toole
Peter Seamus Lorcan O'Toole is an Irish actor of stage and screen. O'Toole achieved stardom in 1962 playing T. E. Lawrence in Lawrence of Arabia, and then went on to become a highly-honoured film and stage actor. He has been nominated for eight Academy Awards, and holds the record for most...
.