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Feast Day: August 1
Birth: January 30, 1875
Death: August 1, 1
Blessed Francisco De Asis Arias Rivas, also known as Francisco Arias Rivas, was born on 30 January 1875 in Cantillana, Sevilla, Spain. He was ordained a priest for the archdiocese of Sevilla on 1 June 1901 and dedicated his life to serving the faithful in various parishes across the region.
Father Francisco Arias Rivas was known for his deep devotion to the Virgen de la Soledad, a revered image of the Virgin Mary representing her sorrow during the passion and death of Jesus Christ. He regularly encouraged his parishioners to turn to the intercession of the Virgin Mary and sought to deepen their faith through devotion to her.
During the upheaval of the Spanish Civil War, religious persecution was rampant. In late July 1936, Father Arias Rivas was unjustly targeted for his commitment to the priesthood. He was arrested, imprisoned, and subjected to torture due to the offense of being a Catholic priest.
Despite the harrowing circumstances, Father Arias Rivas remained steadfast in his faith and continued to inspire hope and courage among his fellow prisoners. However, his captors, fueled by religious animosity, ultimately decided to eliminate him. On 1 August 1936, he was cruelly executed by being shot in the cemetery of Lora del Río, Sevilla, Spain.
His martyrdom earned him a place among the faithful who gave their lives for their obedience to the Catholic faith during the Spanish Civil War. Recognizing his exemplary commitment to Christ and his unwavering fidelity to his priestly vocation, Pope Francis, on 22 June 2023, venerated Father Francisco Arias Rivas by decreeing his martyrdom.
While specific information about his representations or beatification is currently unavailable, his feast day is observed annually on 1 August, the day of his martyrdom. The faithful honor him as a martyr and seek his intercession for strength in times of persecution, courage in the face of adversity, and a deepened devotion to the Virgin Mary.