FERRAGUD GIRBÉS, JOSÉ RAMÓN, BL.

Lay martyr, farm worker; b. Oct. 10, 1887, Algemesí, Valencia, Spain; d. Sept. 24, 1936, Alzira.

As in other parts of Spain during the civil war of 1936–39, the churches and convents of José Ramón Ferragud's hometown of Algemesí were sacked and burned, and religious objects stolen or destroyed. After July 18 the persecution became more virulent, leading to the execution of many priests and faithful lay people, including Fr. José Pascual Ferrer Botella and the laborers Ferragud and Bl. José Medes Ferrís, and Bl. María Teresa Ferragud Roig, the ancient mother of four religious who were also martyrs: Felicidad, Joaquina, Vicenta, and Agustina.

José Ramón (Joseph Raymond) was baptized two days after his birth in the church of San Jaime, Algemesí, and was confirmed in the same church on May 19, 1889. His parents taught him the faith, while he learned secular subjects in the local public school. On Jan. 21, 1914, he married Josefa Ramona Borrás, who bore him eight children.

With the great simplicity of a saint, José Ramón assisted all in need without hesitation. He cofounded the Union of Catholic Workers (1,800 members in 1936) of which he was secretary in 1931. His faith grew because of his daily period of meditation, participation in the Mass, reception of Holy Communion, recitation of the rosary with his family, and devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Blessed Virgin. He belonged to the Nocturnal Adoration Society, Catholic Action, and other groups at San Luis Parish. José Ramón's primary apostolates were the Buena Prensa (Good Press) and as a catechist. Personally he was known for his humility, friendliness, prudence, energy, and valor.

In the days just before the July revolution, José Ramón was aware that religious persecution and probable martyrdom lay ahead. As a union leader he was particularly vulnerable. He was threatened with murder in 1934 because of his defense of sound religious doctrine during the union elections. By February 1936, he believed his fate was sealed. Two months later, Ferragud directly contributed to the failure of a local revolutionary strike directed against the catholic union. Thereafter he learned of the decision to kill him because he would not give up Church rights in favor of workers' rights. Despite the danger surrounding him, he continued his daily activities serenely, trusting that his fate was in the hands of God.

José Ramón was arrested by the militia after midnight on July 28, interrogated at the town hall, then taken to the convent of Fons Salutis, which had been converted into a prison. There he was maltreated physically and psychologically for about a week before being released. When they arrived at his home the second time, the revolutionaries shot the door opened and rushed inside. José Ramón remained incarcerated for 53 days at Fons Salutis during his second stay. At dawn on September 24 about 20 inmates, including Ferragud, were taken by truck to an isolated spot near Alcira called Barraca and executed. The bodies were dumped in Alcira's cemetery, where they were interred. Later Ferragud's remains were transferred to Christ of Calvary crypt in Algemesí.

Three days after his martyrdom, one of his executioners regretted having killed a good worker, and committed to compensating the widow. From that day she was given ten pesetas daily. That same man reported that the martyr exclaimed, "Long live Christ the King!", before covering his face with the black shirt he was wearing. José Ramón was beatified by Pope John Paul II with José Aparicio Sanz and 232 companions on March 11, 2001.

Feast: Sept. 22.

See Also: spanish civil war, martyrs of, bb.

Bibliography: v. cÁrcel ortÍ, Martires españoles del siglo XX (Madrid 1995). w. h. carroll, The Last Crusade (Front Royal, Va. 1996). j. pÉrez de urbel, Catholic Martyrs of the Spanish Civil War, tr. m. f. ingrams (Kansas City, Mo. 1993). r. royal, The Catholic Martyrs of the Twentieth Century (New York 2000). "Hombres de Acción Católica de Valencia," Possumus, no. 103 (1960), 8. L'Osservatore Romano, Eng. no. 11 (March 14, 2001) 1–4, 12.

[k. i. rabenstein]