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Feast Day: July 7
Birth: December 22, 1876
Death: July 7, 1938
Blessed Millán Garde Serrano, born on 22 December 1876 in Vara de Rey, Cuenca, Spain, was a devoted priest and martyr of the Catholic Church. He studied at the seminary of Cuenca, where he obtained his priestly ordination on 21 December 1901.
After his ordination, Blessed Millán Garde Serrano joined the Hermandad de Sacerdotes Operarios Diocesanos (Diocesan Laborer Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus) on 12 August 1903. His commitment to serving God and the Church led him to further his studies at the seminary of Toledo, Spain, where he earned a degree in Canon Law.
Throughout his life, Blessed Millán Garde Serrano held several important positions within various seminaries. He served as the prefect of the seminary in Toledo, Badajoz, Cuernavaca, and Querétaro, Mexico. Later, he became the administrator of the seminary in Astorga, Spain, and served as the spiritual director in the seminaries of Valladolid, Salamanca, and León, Spain.
During the turbulent period of the Spanish Civil War, Blessed Millán Garde Serrano's faith and dedication to his fellow Catholics were tested. As the conflict began, he went into hiding and courageously carried out a secret ministry, providing the Sacrament of Communion to covert Catholics who were unable to practice their faith openly.
However, on 9 April 1938, Blessed Millán Garde Serrano was arrested by anti-Catholic forces for his devotional activities. He was subjected to severe torture and transferred between various prisons, yet he continued to minister and provide solace to his fellow prisoners. Despite the physical and emotional suffering imposed upon him, he remained steadfast in his faith and unwavering in his commitment to the Catholic Church.
Sadly, the relentless physical abuse, combined with the harsh conditions of prison life, eventually took a toll on Blessed Millán Garde Serrano's health. His strength and resolve began to wane, and eventually, his health collapsed under the weight of his suffering. He passed away on 7 July 1938 in Cuenca, Spain, leaving behind a legacy of martyrdom and devotion.
Blessed Millán Garde Serrano's martyrdom was officially recognized by Pope Francis on 29 September 2020. He was beatified on 30 October 2021, with the beatification ceremony taking place in the Cathedral of Nuestra Señora Santa María in Tortosa, Spain. His final resting place is the mausoleum of the Laborer Priests house in Tortosa, where he is buried as a symbol of his sacrifice and unwavering dedication to the Catholic faith.
Blessed Millán Garde Serrano's life serves as an inspiration to all Catholics, demonstrating the importance of faith, unwavering commitment to the Church, and the courage to stand firm in the face of persecution.