Brother Knights,
Viva Cristo Rey!
This month marks the 100th anniversary of the Cristero War, an uprising of Catholics fighting for religious freedom amid violent persecution by the Mexican government. Mexican President Plutarco Elías Calles intensified its campaign to drive the Catholic faith completely from public life. Priests were expelled, churches were seized, and Catholics faced imprisonment, torture and even death. During the three-year conflict, tens of thousands of Catholics gave their lives rather than deny Christ the King, including more than 70 Knights of Columbus. Some fled the country, while others resisted peacefully. Many took up arms under the rallying cry, “¡Viva Cristo Rey y Santa María de Guadalupe!” — “Long live Christ the King and Holy Mary of Guadalupe!” What followed became known as La Cristiada, or the Cristero War.
More than 50 Knights of Columbus councils were active throughout Mexico at that time. As the persecution intensified, the Order helped establish the National League for the Defense of Religious Liberty, distributed five million pamphlets across the United States exposing the brutality of the Mexican government, and sent a delegation to President Calvin Coolidge urging him to intervene. Pope Pius XI recognized the Knights by name for their courageous response in his 1926 encyclical Iniquis Afflictisque.
One hundred years later, the witness of these courageous martyrs remains an inspiration to Knights around the world who seek to defend the faith with unwavering commitment. To learn more about these courageous men, check out the video in the link below.
Cristero Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqp6dbLidlE&t=49s
Vivat Jesus.
Kevin Cowles
Grand Knight 833
