Today, April 12, is the memorial of Saint David Uribe Velasco.
David was born in Buenavista de Cuellar, Mexico in 1889. He came from a poor family and did not become a priest until 1913.
In 1914, when David became the parish priest and served as secretary to Bishop Antonio Rodriguez, the anti-religious violence was taking over Mexico. Both he and the bishop survived when their ship sank as they tried to relocate to another town because of the uprising.
In July 1926, the Mexican bishops ordered a stop to public worship and a close to churches. This was meant to protect the public. David followed, but later carried on with his pastoral responsibilities in secret.
He was eventually caught by the military. They offered to make him bishop of the schismatic church and give him freedom. However, David decided it would be offensive to God to do so.
His refusal made the military decide to have him taken to a secret location. David knew that death was near, so he prayed for his soul and his executioners’, turned over his possessions, and promised to pray for them when he reaches Heaven.
The military shot David in the head in 1927. Pope John Paul II beatified him, together with the other Martyrs of the Mexican Revolution, in 1992. They were canonized in 2000 by the same pope.