Bl. Miguel Pro, Miguel Agustin Pro Juarez, was born in Zacatecas, Mexico in 1891. From his childhood, high spirits, happiness were outstanding characteristics of his personality. The loving and devoted son of a mining engineer and a pious and charitable mother, Miguel had special affinity for the working classes which retained all his life.
At 20, he became a Jesuit novice and shortly thereafter was exiled because of the Mexican revolution. He traveled to the United States, Spain, Nicaragua and Belgium, where he was ordained in 1925. Father Pro suffered from a severe stomach problem and after three operations when his health did not improve, in 1926 his superiors allowed him to return to Mexico in spite of the religious persecution in the country.
The churches were closed and priests were in hiding. Father Pro spent the rest of his life in a secret ministry to the sturdy Mexican Catholics. In addition to fulfilling their spiritual needs, he also carried out works of mercy by assisting the poor of Mexico City with their temporal needs. He adopted many disguises to carry out his secret ministry. In all that he did, he remained obedient to his superiors and filled with the joy of serving Christ, his King.
Falsely accused in a bombing attempt on a former President, Pro became a wanted man. Betrayed to police, he was sentenced to death without benefit of any legal process. On the day of his death, Father Pro forgave his executioners, prayed, bravely refused the blindfold and died proclaiming, "Viva Cristo Rey!" "Long Live Christ the King!"
Prayer
Christ the King, through the intercession of Blessed Miguel Pro,
I beg you to answer my prayers. Give me the grace and the strength necessary to
follow his heroic example, and to live my Catholic faith.
Amen