Blessed Ángel Martínez Miquélez

Biography

Blessed Ángel Martínez Miquélez, also known as Father Ángel Martínez Miquélez, was born at 4 am on 2 March 1907 in Funes, Navarra, Spain. He was the eldest son of José Martínez Polo and Juana Miquélez and was baptized at the age of one day. His aunt and godmother, Magdalena Martínez, consecrated him to the Virgin Mary.

At the age of five, Ángel's family moved to Argentina in search of work. However, their plans did not materialize, and they were forced to return to Spain just two years later. Tragically, Ángel's mother passed away when he was only seven years old. Deeply devoted to his family, his aunt Magdalena stepped in to assist with their upbringing and ensured that the boys received a proper religious education.

Ángel attended a Piarist school, where he excelled academically. As he grew older, he began to feel a calling to religious life and entered the Redemptorist seminary in Espino, Spain, when he reached the appropriate age. His younger brother, Juan, also followed in his footsteps and attended the same seminary.

Throughout his seminary studies, Ángel proved to be an exceptional student, renowned for his seriousness and dedication to his vocation. On 18 September 1928, he professed as a member of the Redemptorists. He continued his studies and was ordained a priest on 20 September 1930, contributing to his community through his intellect and commitment.

Although Father Ángel desired to become a missionary, his superiors recognized his work ethic and intelligence, leading them to assign him as a professor of philosophy and literature at the seminary in Astorga, León, Spain. Despite the heavy teaching load and his own ongoing studies, Father Ángel persevered until a collapse in January 1934 forced him to take a period of rest and recovery. During this time, he utilized his talents to hear confessions and preach missions and retreats in El Espino, Burgos, Spain.

On 11 May 1934, Father Ángel was assigned to the Redemptorist community in Granada, Spain. Later, on 6 October 1934, he was appointed as the secretary to the Community of Perpetual Help in Madrid, Spain. During his time there, he organized the library, preached retreats, and contributed articles to the Revista del Perpetuo Socorro.

In July 1936, as the Spanish Civil War broke out, Father Ángel was assigned to minister to young people in the community. Unfortunately, the violence of the war reached the Redemptorist community on 20 July, and militiamen seized Father Ángel and his fellow brothers. They were falsely accused of being Fascists due to their opposition to Communism. The Communists subjected the brothers to severe beatings before eventually executing them by gunfire.

Father Ángel Martínez Miquélez's martyrdom exemplifies his unwavering faith and dedication to serving others, even in the face of grave danger. His life is an inspiration to all those who seek to remain faithful to their beliefs, even in times of conflict and persecution.

On 24 April 2021, Pope Francis granted the decree of martyrdom for Blessed Ángel Martínez Miquélez, recognizing his sacrifice for the faith. His feast day is celebrated on 20 July. While the specific details regarding his beatification are not provided, his life stands as a testament to his sanctity and enduring legacy within the Catholic Church.