September 11, 2013
Seventy-four Brothers of the Christian Schools and one lay person will be among the 522 martyrs beatified October 13, 2013 in Tarragona, Spain. This beatification will complete the glorification of all Brother Martyrs who were killed in Spain during the religious persecution in the 1930s. It is the largest beatification celebrated until now of the Spanish persecution. The Brothers are included in three causes of the dioceses of Madrid (two causes) and of Tarragona (one cause).
As the date approaches, Superior General Álvaro Rodríguez Echeverría released a letter about the beatification, which includes some history and describes how the Brothers should inspire Lasallians. He wrote:
The example of heroic generosity that these Brothers offer us should move us to follow, as they did, in the footsteps of Jesus Christ so that our entire life will be a credible witness of the faith we profess, at a historic time in which we are surrounded by so many people who deny God and fight against religion. Religious intolerance still produces thousands of victims in many countries. Let’s do everything possible so that our educational institutions may become an example of coexistence where life is respected as the highest value and where we build together a world of brothers.
The Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools is compiling brief biographies for each Brother. Meanwhile, this document contains more information.
