ABAD CASASEMPERE, AMALIA, AND COMPANIONS, BB.

Lay martyrs; d. Aug. 20, 1936 and Jan. 31, 1937, Valencia, Spain. Although the venom of the Republican Guards was vented primarily against priests and religious during the Spanish Civil War, many devout lay people also fell victim to the rebels' hatred of the Church. These women, members of Catholic Action, are representative of the numerous lay martyrs of the period. Many became suspect because they owned a Rosary or were seen attending Mass. Included below, in chronological order of their martyrdom, are single women, wives, mothers, and widows aging in age from 31 to 83.

María Climet Mateu (b. May 13, 1887, Xátiva; d. there, Aug. 20, 1936) was a self-supporting, single woman, who was actively involved in all aspects of parochial life. She was martyred together with her mother, who has not been beatified.

Francisca Cualladó Baixauli (b. Dec. 3, 1890, Valencia; d. Sept. 19, 1936, Benifaiós) was a seamstress, who openly lived and proclaimed her Catholic faith through her frequent participation in the Eucharist and service to others.

Crescencia valls espÍ (b. June 9, 1863, Ontinyent; d. there, Sept. 20, 1936) contributed to the support of her family through her embroidery, while participating actively in various parish associations. She was martyred with three of her sisters.

Amalia Abad Casasempere (b. Dec. 11, 1897, Alcoi, Alicante; d. Sept. 21, 1936, Benillup, Alicante) was the widowed mother of two daughters. While fulfilling her familial duties, she was involved with various religious groups and in caring for the poor.

María de la Purificación Vidal Pastor (b. Sept. 14, 1892, Alzira; d. Sept. 21, 1936, Corbera), a committed single woman, lived a life of intense Eucharistic and Marian piety.

Josefina Moscardó Montalvá (b. April 10, 1880, Alzira; d. there, Sept. 22, 1936), like many other unmarried lay women of this group, was known for her generosity to all in need. She openly practiced her faith and participated in many parish activities.

Sofía Ximénez Ximénez (b. Oct. 15, 1876, Valencia; d. Sept. 23, 1936, Paterna), widowed mother of two children, whom she supported by her own labor while still finding time to participate in the apostolic works of the parish. She was killed with her sister, Bl. María de la Purificación Ximénez, and Bl. María Josefa del Rio Messa (see torrentallÉ paraire, elvira).

Encarnación gil valls (b. Jan. 27, 1888, Ontinyent; d. Sept. 24, 1936, L'Ollería) was considered especially dangerous by the anti-religious authorities because she taught children and shared with them her profound faith.

Herminia Martínez Amigó (b. July 31, 1887, Puzol; d. Sept. 26, 1936, Gilet), known for her generosity and numerous charitable works, was shot to death with her husband, who has not been beatified.

María Jordá Botella (b. Jan. 26, 1905, Alcoi, Alicante; d. Sept. 27, 1936, Benifallím, Alicante), the youngest of the group, was known for her undaunted optimism and the joy with which she carried out her lay apostolate.

Florencia Caerols Martínez (b. Feb. 20, 1890, Caudete, Albacete; d. Oct. 2, 1936, Rotglá Corbera), an unmarried textile worker, served her parish as a catechist and by visiting the sick.

Ana María Aranda Riera (b. Jan. 24, 1888, Denia, Alicante; d. Oct. 14, 1936, Paterna), a single woman, attended Mass daily, participated in various parish groups, and assisted with the many works of the Church.

Társila Córdoba Belda (b. May 8, 1861, Sollana; d. Oct. 17, 1936, Algemesí) suffered much tragedy in her life. After the deaths of her husband and three children, she found the strength through daily Communion to care for the sick, poor, and needy.

María Teresa Ferragut Roig (b. Jan. 14, 1853, Algemesí; d. Oct. 25, 1936, Alzira), the eldest of this group (83), is called the "Mother of the Maccabbees" because she died with four of her daughters, three of whom were beatified with her (see masiÁ ferragud, jesÚs).

María del Carmen Viel Ferrando (b. Nov. 27, 1893, Sueca; d. Nov. 4, 1936, El Saler de Valencia), an unmarried woman, worked with working-class children and collaborated in parish activities.

María del Olvido Noguera Albelda (b. Dec. 30, 1903, Carcaixent; d. Nov. 30, 1936, Benifairó de Valldigna), an unmarried woman, manifested her faith through diverse apostolates in the parish and secular world.

Luisa María Frías Cañizares (b. June 20, 1896, Valencia; d. Dec. 6, 1936, Paterna), an unmarried professor at the University of Valencia, established her lay apostolate in the college setting and the parish. She is remembered for her loving spirit and desire for social justice.

Pilar Villalonga Villalba (b. Jan. 22, 1891, Valencia; d. Dec. 11, 1936, Burjassot), a committed single woman, lived an intensely spiritual life that manifested itself in her public actions and service to the Church.

María Luisa Montesinos Orduña (b. March 3, 1901, Valencia; d. Jan. 31, 1937, Picassent), an unmarried member of various religious groups, was martyred with her father, three siblings, and uncle, none of whom have been beatified.

These 19 women were beatified by Pope John Paul II with José Aparicio Sanz and 232 companions on March 11, 2001.

Feast: Sept. 22.

Bibliography: v. cÁrcel ortÍ, Martires españoles del siglo XX (Madrid 1995). w. h. carroll, The Last Crusade (Front Royal, Va. 1996). j. pÉrez de urbel, Catholic Martyrs of the Spanish Civil War, tr. m. f. ingrams (Kansas City, Mo. 1993). r. royal, The Catholic Martyrs of the Twentieth Century (New York 2000). L'Osservatore Romano, Eng. no. 11 (March 14, 2001), 1–4, 12.

[k. i. rabenstein]