Romo González, Toribio, St.

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ROMO GONZÁLEZ, TORIBIO, ST.

Martyr, priest; b. April 16, 1900, at Santa Ana de Guadalupe, near Jalostotitlán, Jalisco, Diocese of San Juan de los Lagos, Mexico; d. Feb. 25, 1928, Tequila, Jalisco, Archdiocese of Guadalajara. At thirteen he began studying at the minor seminary of San Juan de los Lagos. He participated in Catholic Action while attending Guadalajara's seminary (192022), and was ordained 1922. His ministry in various parishes (Sayula, Tuxpan, Yahualica, Cuquío, and Tequila) concentrated on preparing catechesis, assisting workers, and promoting Eucharistic devotion. Forced into hiding with St. Justino orona, he made his headquarters in an abandoned factory and conducted his ministry in Tequila at night. Soldiers broke in and shot him. In 1948, his body was enshrined in a chapel built for it at Jalostotitlán. Fr. Romo was both beatified (Nov. 22, 1992) and canonized (May 21, 2000) with Cristobal magallanes [see guadalajara (mexico), mar tyrs of, ss.] by Pope John Paul II.

Feast: May 25 (Mexico).

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]