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On October 16 in Cordoba, Spain, another 127 victims of the Spanish Civil War will be beatified.
The years of this war, known as the Red Terror, resulted in the slaying of some 6,800 priests and religious.
Nearly 2,000 of these have been beatified, with further causes for that same number in process.
Those beatified in Cordoba include 79 priests, five seminarians, three men religious, one woman religious, and 39 laypeople.
Among them is Father Juan Elías Medina who was killed at age 33, on September 25, 1936.
When his breviary was collected from the prison, a letter to his mother was found inside:
Mother:
As I write this, it seems my death sentence is being decided. Nevertheless, I write calmly. May God give you strength to receive this news. It is a joy to be able to offer a son to God, and if He so wishes, you are going to offer one. As I hope that we will see each other in heaven, pray often “My Lord, and my God,” and if you can, make a good confession, and thus we will live together forever in Glory.
Tell those who ask about me that they should pray a lot for my soul, which will need it a lot. To my siblings, that they be good and that they don’t stop [praying for me]. And above all, consider that your son dies content, and in this hour, more than ever, I love you. Your son, Juan.
And today we celebrate...