Blessed Manuel López Álvarez

Biography

Blessed Manuel López Álvarez, also known as Father Manuel López Álvarez, was born on 26 March 1881 in Mairena, Granada, Spain. He was born into a humble peasant family and was baptized on the day of his birth. From an early age, Manuel displayed a deep sense of faith and a calling to serve God.

His dedication to his faith led him to pursue the priesthood, and he was ordained as a priest in the archdiocese of Granada on 16 July 1905. Father Manuel began his ministry as a parish priest in Alcolea, Spain, where he encountered various challenges due to the growing anti-Catholic sentiment during the time leading up to the Spanish Civil War.

Father Manuel's unwavering commitment to his faith brought him into conflict with those who sought to suppress the Catholic Church. He faced numerous threats and acts of violence. On one occasion, a shotgun was pulled on him while he was officiating at a funeral. Fearing further harm, he resorted to sleeping in his church to deter potential arsonists.

Unfortunately, Father Manuel's peaceful life took a tragic turn on 20 August 1936, when he was reported by Communist sympathizers to the militia. Alongside eight other Catholics, he was seized, loaded into a truck, and taken to a cemetery in Berja, Almeria. There, they were ruthlessly murdered.

The deaths of Father Manuel López Álvarez and his companions were marked by extreme brutality. After being shot, their bodies were dragged to a pit, where their skulls were crushed with a gravedigger's tool. They were buried in a mass grave in Berja alongside other victims of the same atrocity.

Father Manuel's unwavering faith and willingness to defend his beliefs in the face of grave danger and persecution led to his recognition as a martyr. His martyrdom was officially recognized by Pope Francis on 14 June 2016, with a decree acknowledging his heroic witness to the Catholic faith. Subsequently, on 25 March 2017, Pope Francis beatified Father Manuel López Álvarez in a ceremony held at the Palacio de Exposiciones y Congresos de Aguadulce in Almería, Spain. The beatification ceremony was presided over by Cardinal Angelo Amato.

Blessed Manuel López Álvarez serves as an inspiring model of unwavering faith and courage in the face of adversity. His sacrifice and martyrdom during a tumultuous period in Spanish history serve as a testament to his devotion to the Catholic Church and his ultimate commitment to God. Today, he is venerated by the faithful on his feast day, 20 August, commemorating the day of his martyrdom.