In Burgos the Beatification of Fr Valentín Palencia Marquina- Martyred for being a priest

“Killed because he was a priest”. This was the real reason for the
martyrdom of Fr. Valentín Palencia Marquina (1871-1937), who was assassinated
along with four young lay people: Donato Rodríguez García, Germán García
García, Zacarías Cuesta Campo, and Emilio Huidobro Corrales. 

Their only fault
was wanting to defend the faith and share the fate of their father, teacher and
friend. Cardinal Angelo Amato, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of
Saints, recalled the event of the five martyrs on the occasion of their
beatification. The Cardinal, as Pope Francis’ representative, presided at the
Rite on Saturday morning, 23 April, in the Cathedral of Burgos, Spain.

“Cognizant of the
imminent danger, the martyrs, before the massacre”, the Cardinal said, “prayed much, in order to prepare themselves
for death with a meek and forgiving attitude”. They made “no act of rebellion”.
He then shared details of the final moments of Fr Valentín’s life: he managed
to preserve a consecrated host in his pocket, as the viaticum for his meeting
with the Lord.