Martyr (1885-1936)
His life
+ Pascual worked as a manufacturer in Carcaixent, Spain.
+ A husband and father of five boys, he was an active member of Catholic Action.
+ When the churches in Valencia were closed by the civil authorities taking part in the anti-Catholic persecutions of Spanish Civil War, Pascual reserved the Eucharist in his home to save it from desecration. He would eventually be arrested four times for his support of the Church.
+ Blessed Pascual was killed by firing squad on September 6, 1936, and was beatified as a martyr in 2001.
For prayer and reflection
“Be firm, steadfast, always fully devoted to the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”—1 Corinthians 15:58
Prayer
Almighty ever-living God, by whose gift blessed Pascual fought for righteousness’ sake even until death, grant, we pray, through his intercession, that we may bear every adversity for the sake of your love and hasten with all our strength towards you who alone are life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
(from The Roman Missal: Common of Martyrs—For One Martyr)
Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.
And today we celebrate...