The story of their life
A Mexican teenager killed during the Cristero conflict after refusing to renounce his Catholic faith. The Cristero War involved severe state restrictions, armed resistance and widespread civilian suffering.
Saint20th century · Feast February 10
St José Sánchez del Río
Also known as José Luis Sánchez del Río, Joselito, Saint José Sánchez del Río
Young martyr
A Mexican teenager killed during the Cristero conflict after refusing to renounce his Catholic faith.
A note on content. This profile is a prototype draft. Devotional traditions, historical facts and uncertain traditions will be clearly identified once entries are reviewed. We do not publish invented quotations.
Historical context
The Cristero War involved severe state restrictions, armed resistance and widespread civilian suffering.
Defining moments
- Supporting the Cristero cause
- Serving in a non-combat role
- Giving up his horse
- Being captured
- Refusing to renounce faith
Faith and spirituality
Youthful loyalty and courage under coercion amid political violence.
Why this saint matters today
A companion for Mexican youth under religious pressure, but not a model for recruiting children into war.
Patronage and intercession
People turn to St José Sánchez del Río in matters of:
Mexican youth
Persecuted young Christians
Sahuayo
A prayer
God of grace, through the intercession of St José Sánchez del Río, guide us in truth, courage and love. Amen.
Timeline
Sources and further reading
- https://www.vaticannews.va/en/saints.html
- https://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/Calendar/
Source-quality status: unverified prototype