More biography below picture…

“¡Viva Cristo Rey!” means:

“Long live Christ the King!”

It’s both a profession of faith and a defiant proclamation that Christ’s authority is higher than any earthly power.

Blessed Miguel Agustín Pro, S.J. (1891–1927) was a Mexican Jesuit priest and martyr, widely loved for his courage, humor, and total trust in Christ during intense anti-Catholic persecution.

Here’s a clear, sober portrait:

Who he was

  • Born: January 13, 1891, Guadalupe, Zacatecas, Mexico
  • Jesuit priest, ordained in 1925 after years of exile and illness
  • Lived during the Cristero persecution, when the Mexican government outlawed public Catholic worship and hunted priests

His ministry

Because priests were illegal, Fr. Pro:

  • Celebrated Mass secretly in homes
  • Heard confessions while disguised (mechanic, street vendor, musician)
  • Brought the sacraments to the poor, the sick, and those about to die
  • Used humor and cheerfulness as a pastoral weapon against fear

Despite constant danger, witnesses consistently note his joy, serenity, and interior freedom—not recklessness, but trust.

Arrest and martyrdom

  • Falsely accused of involvement in a bombing attempt (no trial, no evidence)
  • Executed November 23, 1927
  • The government photographed his execution to intimidate Catholics
    → instead, the images inspired faith worldwide

His final moments:

  • Refused blindfold
  • Stretched out his arms like a cross
  • Shouted “¡Viva Cristo Rey!” (“Long live Christ the King!”)
  • Forgave his executioners openly

Why the Church honors him

  • Martyrdom in odium fidei (killed out of hatred for the faith)
  • A model of:
    • Lay and priestly courage under persecution
    • Interior joy amid suffering
    • Fidelity without fanaticism
  • Beatified in 1988 by St. John Paul II

Spiritual significance (especially relevant today)

Blessed Miguel Pro shows that:

  • Sanctity can be playful and human, not grim
  • Deep faith does not always look “ecstatic” or extraordinary on the outside
  • God sometimes gives interior freedom and joy, not visions, to sustain souls under pressure
  • Laypeople and priests alike can be called to quiet heroism