Today, April 1, is the commemoration of Blessed Anacleto González Flores.
Anacleto was born in 1888 to a poor family in Jalisco, Mexico. He was recommended by a local priest, a family friend, to enter the seminary. The priest was impressed by his intelligence. Although a standout student, Anacleto realized that he did not have a priestly vocation and dropped out.
He became a lawyer in the archdiocese of Guadalajara, Mexico, and married María Concepción Guerrero. They had two children.
He attended Mass daily, performed charitable works, visited prisoners, and taught catechism. He was the leader in the Catholic Association of Mexican Youth (AJCM) and founded the magazine La Palabra to speak out against the anti-Catholic actions of the government.
He also founded the Popular Union to organize peaceful opposition to the Calle government’s anti-Catholic actions. Instead of armed conflict, Anacleto gave speeches, wrote pamphlets, and sought aid for the Cristeros. The Cristero War was in full effect.
When official oppression escalated to murder, Anacleto began writing and speaking out against the government, urging people to support and aid the rebels in what became known as the Cristero War.
The government, in its efforts to silence the rebellion, arrested Catholic activists and leaders such as Anacleto, who was framed for the murder of American Edgar Wilkens.
Anacleto was tortured. He was hung by his thumbs, which were pulled out of their sockets; struck with a rifle, causing his shoulder to break; and had his feet slashed. He was killed by firing squad, with his last words being “I die, but God does not! Viva Cristo Rey!” He was 38 years old.
In 2005, he was beatified in Mexico by Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins.