Bartolomé Blanco Márquez (25 November 1914 – 2 October 1936) was a Spanish secretary of

Catholic Action Catholic Action is a movement of Catholic laity, lay people within the Catholic Church which advocates for increased Catholic influence on society. Catholic Action groups were especially active in the nineteenth century in historically Catholic cou ...

and a delegate to the Catholic Syndicates.

Early life

Born on 25 November 1914 in Pozoblanco, Córdoba Province,

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

, Blanco was orphaned as a child, and raised by his aunt and uncle with whom he worked. He was an excellent student, studying under the tutelage of the Salesians. He also served as a lay catechist, and at 18 was elected youth secretary of Catholic Action in Pozoblanco.Hartman O.P., Irene. "Blessed Bartolome Blanco Marquez 1914-1936", ''Southwest Kansas Register'', Diocese of Dodge City
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Arrest and trial

On 18 August 1936, Blanco was imprisoned while on military leave for refusing to be mobilised in the government's armed forces against Franco's military rebellion of July; on 24 September he was moved to a prison in Jaén. There he was held with fifteen priests and other laymen. During his trial, Blanco remained true to his faith and his religious convictions. He did not protest his death sentence and told the court that if he lived he would continue being an active Catholic. He was judged, condemned to death and shot on 2 October 1936, charged with refusing to serve in the army in time of war. Letters he wrote on the eve of his death to his family and to his girlfriend Maruja show his profound faith."A Martyr's Letter to His Girlfriend", ''Zenit'', November 9, 2007

“May this be my last will: forgiveness, forgiveness, forgiveness; but indulgence, which I wish to be accompanied by doing them as much good as possible. Therefore, I ask you to avenge me with the vengeance of a Christian: returning much good to those that have tried to do me evil,” he wrote to his relatives.

According to documents supporting his cause for

beatification Beatification (from Latin , "blessed" and , "to make") is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a deceased person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in their name. ''Beati'' is the p ...

, Blanco went to the site of his execution barefooted, "in order to be more conformed to Christ.

He kissed his handcuffs, surprising the guards that cuffed him. He refused to be shot from behind. “Whoever dies for Christ should do so facing forward and standing straight. Long live Christ the King!” he shouted as he fell to the ground under a shower of bullets.

Blanco was beatified 28 October 2007 by

Pope Benedict XVI Pope BenedictXVI (born Joseph Alois Ratzinger; 16 April 1927 – 31 December 2022) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 19 April 2005 until his resignation on 28 February 2013. Benedict's election as p ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blanco Marquez, Bartolome 1914 births 1936 deaths People from the Province of Córdoba (Spain) Martyrs of the Spanish Civil War Spanish beatified people 20th-century Christian saints 20th-century venerated Christians Roman Catholic activists People executed by Spain by firing squad

Early life

Arrest and trial

See also

References