Aguilar Alemán, Rodrigo, St.
AGUILAR ALEMÁN, RODRIGO, ST.
Martyr, pastor; b. Mar. 13, 1875, Sayula, Jalisco, Diocese of Ciudad Guzmán, Mexico; d. Oct. 28, 1927, Unión de Tula, Jalisco, Diocese of Autlán. He studied at the auxiliary seminary of Ciudad Guzmán, where he showed exceptional literary talent. Following his ordination to the priesthood (1905), Fr. Aguilar served in various parishes. He was serving as interim pastor of the Unión de Tula when he was persecuted for his priesthood. He took refuge on a farm from where he continued to minister to the faithful and direct spiritual exercises. He was betrayed by one of his flock and arrested by troops under the command of Brigadier General Juan Izaguirre. He was hanged from a mango tree in the town square the following day. Thereafter his body was translated to the parish church at Tula. Aguilar was both beatified (Nov. 22, 1992) and canonized (May 21, 2000) with Cristobal magallanes [see guadalajara (mexico), martyrs of, ss.] by Pope John Paul II.
Feast: May 25 (Mexico).
See Also: mexico, modern.
Bibliography: j. cardoso, Los mártires mexicanos (Mexico City 1953). j. dÍaz estrella, El movimiento cristero: sociedad y conflicto en los Altos de Jalisco (México, D.F. 1979).
[k. i. rabenstein]