In the decree approved by the Pope, the heroic virtues of seven Servants of God are also ascertained and so is the martyrdom of the Servants of God Joseph Álvarez-Benavides y de la Torre, dean of the Chapter of the Cathedral of Almería, and of his 114 Companions killed in hatred of the faith between 1936 and 1938.
The Salesian Family has also given a great contribution of blood during the Spanish Civil War of 1936-1938. We are speaking of Blessed Joseph Calasanz Marqués, of Enrico Sáiz Aparicio, priests, and of 93 fellow martyrs, whose liturgical memory is celebrated on September 22nd.
This is a testimony that unites in martyrdom members of the four groups of the Salesian Family founded by Don Bosco: Salesians, Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Salesian Cooperators and one member of the Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA).
These are the ripe and mature fruits of a charism lived in the work of evangelization and education by disciples who offered their entire life even unto martyrdom, as witnesses to Jesus Christ, with the dream that the Word might be accepted and might manifest His liberating and renovating power.
