ROSALES, ROMÁN ADAME, ST.

Martyr, priest; b. Feb. 27, 1859, Teocaltiche, Jalisco, Diocese of Aguascalientes, Mexico; d. Apr. 21, 1927, Yahualica, Guadalajara. After completing his seminary studies at Guadalajara, Román was ordained priest (Nov. 30, 1890) and assigned to various parishes. He concentrated his energies on catechesis, popular missions, the construction of chapels in the surrounding areas (and St. Joseph's Church), the care of the sick, and the education of children. He founded an association of the Daughters of Mary and encouraged nocturnal adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. As pastor of Nochistlán, Zacatecas, Archdiocese of Guadalajara, this profoundly humble priest secretly administered the sacraments during the persecution until his hiding place was betrayed. He was arrested at night and tortured. Later he was imprisoned at Yahualica, where he was deprived of food and water for several days. On the day of his execution, he was taken to the church cemetery, where a grave had already been opened for him, and shot. Román's body was exhumed and returned to Nochistlán. He was both beatified (Nov. 22, 1992) and canonized (May 21, 2000) with Cristobal magallanes [see guadalajara (mexico), mar tyrs of, ss.] by Pope John Paul II.

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). y. padilla rangel, El Catolicismo social y el movimiento Cristero en Aguascalientes (Aguascalientes 1992).

[k. i. rabenstein]