MAGALLANES JARA, CRISTÓBAL (CHRISTOPHER), ST.

Martyr, priest; b. July 30, 1869, La Sementera Ranch, Totatiche, Jalisco, Archdiocese of Guadalajara, Mexico; d. May 25, 1927, Colotitlán near Durango, Jalisco, Diocese of Zacatecas. Cristóbal was raised in a humble family and worked in the fields until he entered Guadalajara's seminary (1888). Following his ordination in Santa Teresa's, Guadalajara (Sept. 17, 1899), he was chaplain and assistant director of a school in Guadalajara. He was also parochial priest in his hometown for seventeen years before his death. In that capacity he organized catechetical centers and schools on the outlying ranches, constructed an irrigation system, founded an orphanage, and established garden plots to help the poor. He also evangelized the native Huicholes and propagated the Rosary. When the government closed Guadalajara's seminary, he founded one in his parish to ensure the formation of future priests. En route to celebrate Mass on a farm (May 21, 1927), he was caught in a gun battle between Cristeros and the troops of President Calles commanded by General Goñi. He was arrested, taken to the municipal prison at Totatiches, and later transferred to Colotitlán. He died with St. Agustín caloca. Magallanes was both beatified (Nov. 22, 1992) and canonized (May 21, 2000) by Pope John Paul II. [see guadalajara (mexico), mar tyrs of, ss.].

Feast: May 25 (Mexico).

Bibliography: j. cardoso, Los mártires mexicanos (Mexico City 1953). j. dÍaz estrella, El movimiento cristero: sociedad y conflicto en los Altos de Jalisco (México, D.F. 1979). v. garcÍa juÁrez, Los cristeros (Fresnillo, Zac. 1990).

[k. i. rabenstein]