ST ROMAN ADAME ROSALES, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 21 APRIL

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN APRIL

Saints celebrated on the 21st of April

Prayer to the Angels and the Saints

Heavenly Father, in praising Your Angels and Saints we praise Your glory, for by honouring them we honour You, their Creator. Their splendour shows us Your greatness, which infinitely surpasses that of all creation.

In Your loving providence, You saw fit to send Your Angels to watch over us. Grant that we may always be under their protection and one day enjoy their company in heaven.

Heavenly Father, You are glorified in Your Saints, for their glory is the crowning of Your gifts. You provide an example for us by their lives on earth, You give us their friendship by our communion with them, You grant us strength and protection through their prayer for the Church, and You spur us on to victory over evil and the prize of eternal glory by this great company of witnesses.

Grant that we who aspire to take part in their joy may be filled with the Spirit that blessed their lives, so that, after sharing their faith on earth, we may also experience their peace in heaven. Amen.

SAINT ROMAN ADAME ROSALES, PRIEST AND MARTYR 

Roman Adame Rosales was born on February 27, 1859. He studied for the priesthood in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, and was ordained on November 30, 1890.

A PROFOUND DEDICATION TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN

He worked in various parishes, showing a profound dedication to the Blessed Virgin Mary and to catechesis, directing spiritual exercises, and parish schools. He founded the association "Daughters of Mary and Nocturnal Adoration," and built numerous chapels on the ranches.

THE GOVERNMENT PERSECUTION

When government persecutions of the Church began in earnest, and the Calles Law forced the closing of the churches, Fr Roman took his ministry underground in private houses.

HE WAS BETRAYED

On April 18, 1927, while conducting a Lenten service at Rancho Veladones, Fr Roman was betrayed and arrested the next day. He was captured by government forces and underwent torture. Fr Roman was first jailed at Mexticacan, then was forced to walk miles to Yahualica. While there, he spent several days tied up, without food and water.

HE WAS TORTURED

Several local lay people offered to buy Fr Roman's freedom from Colonel Quinones. Quinones demanded a $6,000 bribe, but instead of releasing Fr Roman, he pocketed the money and ordered Fr Roman to be executed anyway.

On April 21, 1927, Fr Roman was taken to an open grave, where he was executed by firing squad. His remains were later disinterred and brought to Nochistlan. He was canonised in 2000.

(Information from Catholic Online - https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=7654)