Toribio Romo González
Encyclopedia
Saint Toribio Romo González was a Mexican
martyr who died in the Cristero War
.
He was born April 16, 1900, in Santa Ana de Guadalupe, Jalostotitlán
, Mexico
. In 1912 he entered the Auxiliary Seminary in San Juan de los Lagos
. He was a playful and happy seminarian who loved to joke. In 1922 he was ordained as a priest. He offered his first Mass
on January 5, 1923. He primarily emphasized the catechesis. He underwent severe trials, however, as he was ordered by the government when the religious persecutions began in 1927 to confine himself to his residence and was not allowed to pray the Rosary
in public or to celebrate Mass.
A man of intense prayer, Fr. Toribio carried out his pious works in an exemplary manner with emphasis on examination of conscience, meditation, spiritual exercises and visits to the Holy Sacrament. He always demonstrated a great spirit of faith, a certainty in hope of reaching Heaven, and a compassion that moved him to suffer along with others (to the point of depriving himself of his own basic necessities). Obedience and desire shone in him, he was austere, quiet and sometimes troubled. He was ready to die for God, but he did feel fear and asked for God’s grace and strength.
In 1927 he was transferred to Tequila for his safety. He set up residence in a factory, and his sister, María, and brother, Román, (also a priest) came to live with him.
On Friday, February 24, 1928, he spent his day organizing the parish registry. Two days before he had sent his brother away for safety. Fr. Toribio finished his work at 4:00am on February 25 and decided to sleep a little. An hour later the government troops arrived and broke into the bedroom where Fr. Toribio was sleeping. One soldier shouted: “Here is the priest, kill him!” He said, “Here I am, but do not kill me.”
One soldier fired, and Fr. Toribio rose from his bed and took a few steps until a second bullet caused him to fall into the arms of his sister, who cried in a loud voice: “Courage, Father Toribio...merciful Christ, receive him! Long live Christ the King!”
There is a belief among some Mexicans that the ghost of Toribio Romo has appeared to some undocumented immigrants crossing the border to assist them in distress. He is used as an icon by volunteers there who are providing food, water and money to them.
2. Murphy, James. The Martyrdom of Saint Toribio Romo.
Liguori Publications (November 1, 2007)
3. Thompson, Ginger. "Santa Ana de Guadalupe Journal; A Saint Who Guides Migrants to a Promised Land." The New York Times, August 14, 2002.
4. Corchado, Alfredo. "The migrant's saint: Toribio Romo is a favorite of Mexicans crossing the border." The Dallas Morning News, July 22, 2006.
5. Sheehan, Thomas. Dictionary of Patron Saints' Names. Our Sunday Visitor (September 2001)
6.
Mexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
martyr who died in 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...
.
He was born April 16, 1900, in Santa Ana de Guadalupe, Jalostotitlán
Jalostotitlán
The municipality of Jalostotitlán and its municipal seat of the same name are located in the Los Altos region of the Mexican state of Jalisco.The municipality shares its border on the north with the municipaly of Teocaltiche, the east with the municipality of San Juan de los Lagos, to the south...
, Mexico
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...
. In 1912 he entered the Auxiliary Seminary in San Juan de los Lagos
San Juan de los Lagos
San Juan de los Lagos is a town and municipality located in the northeast corner of the state of Jalisco, Mexico, in a region known as Los Altos...
. He was a playful and happy seminarian who loved to joke. In 1922 he was ordained as a priest. He offered his first Mass
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
on January 5, 1923. He primarily emphasized the catechesis. He underwent severe trials, however, as he was ordered by the government when the religious persecutions began in 1927 to confine himself to his residence and was not allowed to pray the Rosary
Rosary
The rosary or "garland of roses" is a traditional Catholic devotion. The term denotes the prayer beads used to count the series of prayers that make up the rosary...
in public or to celebrate Mass.
A man of intense prayer, Fr. Toribio carried out his pious works in an exemplary manner with emphasis on examination of conscience, meditation, spiritual exercises and visits to the Holy Sacrament. He always demonstrated a great spirit of faith, a certainty in hope of reaching Heaven, and a compassion that moved him to suffer along with others (to the point of depriving himself of his own basic necessities). Obedience and desire shone in him, he was austere, quiet and sometimes troubled. He was ready to die for God, but he did feel fear and asked for God’s grace and strength.
In 1927 he was transferred to Tequila for his safety. He set up residence in a factory, and his sister, María, and brother, Román, (also a priest) came to live with him.
On Friday, February 24, 1928, he spent his day organizing the parish registry. Two days before he had sent his brother away for safety. Fr. Toribio finished his work at 4:00am on February 25 and decided to sleep a little. An hour later the government troops arrived and broke into the bedroom where Fr. Toribio was sleeping. One soldier shouted: “Here is the priest, kill him!” He said, “Here I am, but do not kill me.”
One soldier fired, and Fr. Toribio rose from his bed and took a few steps until a second bullet caused him to fall into the arms of his sister, who cried in a loud voice: “Courage, Father Toribio...merciful Christ, receive him! Long live Christ the King!”
Sources
1. Gutierrez, Marco A. Garcia. "Toribio Romo: protector de los mojados: es un espejismo del desierto que hace milagros de carne y hueso." Contenido, June, 20022. Murphy, James. The Martyrdom of Saint Toribio Romo.
Liguori Publications (November 1, 2007)
3. Thompson, Ginger. "Santa Ana de Guadalupe Journal; A Saint Who Guides Migrants to a Promised Land." The New York Times, August 14, 2002.
4. Corchado, Alfredo. "The migrant's saint: Toribio Romo is a favorite of Mexicans crossing the border." The Dallas Morning News, July 22, 2006.
5. Sheehan, Thomas. Dictionary of Patron Saints' Names. Our Sunday Visitor (September 2001)
6.
External links
- Tulsa Oklahoma Diocesan Shrine: Diocesan Shrine dedicated to Saint Toribio Romo located in Tulsa, Oklahoma.