Saint Mateo Correamagallanes

Biography

Saint Mateo Correamagallanes, also known as Mateo Correa, was born on 23 July 1866 in Tepechitlán, Zacatecas, Mexico. He attended the seminary at Zacatecas on a scholarship, beginning on 12 January 1881. After several years of dedicated study and formation, he was ordained as a priest on 20 August 1893. Following his ordination, Father Mateo was assigned to the parish of Concepcion de Oro, Mexico, where he served as a parish priest from 1898 to 1905. During his time there, he became close friends with the Pro-Juarez family and had the privilege of baptizing Humberto Pro, a young child who would later become a martyr in the Mexican Revolution. Father Mateo also had the honor of administering the Sacrament of First Communion to Blessed Miguel Pro, who would also meet a similar fate. In 1908, Father Mateo was reassigned to Colotlan, Mexico, where he continued his dedicated service to the community until 1910. However, in the midst of political upheaval and the government's repression of the Church during the Mexican Revolution, Father Mateo was forced to go into hiding. Despite these challenging circumstances, he remained steadfast in his faith and ministry. In 1926, Father Mateo was assigned to Valparaiso, Mexico. However, his pastoral duties were interrupted when he was arrested while en route to administer the sacraments to a sick individual. Demonstrating his deep reverence for the Blessed Sacrament, upon seeing the soldiers approaching, he quickly swallowed the host to prevent its desecration. Accused of being part of the armed Cristero rebellion against the government, Father Mateo was imprisoned successively in Zacatecas and Durango, Mexico. While in jail, he demonstrated remarkable compassion and humility by hearing the confessions of fellow prisoners. Despite pressure from the jail's commander, General Ortiz, who demanded to know what the condemned men had confessed, Father Mateo refused to break the sacred seal of the confessional. On 6 February 1927, on the outskirts of Durango City, Father Mateo was martyred for being a faithful priest and for his unwavering commitment to upholding the sanctity of the confessional. He was shot, giving his life for the Gospel and the love of God. Recognizing his selfless dedication and martyrdom, Pope John Paul II decreed the venerability of Saint Mateo Correamagallanes on 7 March 1992. Later that year, on 22 November, he was beatified by Pope John Paul II. Finally, on 21 May 2000, during the Jubilee of Mexico, Father Mateo was canonized as a saint by Pope John Paul II. Saint Mateo Correamagallanes serves as a shining example of holiness, courage, and fidelity to his priestly vocation. His feast days are celebrated on 6 February and 21 May as one of the Martyrs of the Mexican Revolution. Although he does not have a specific patronage, Saint Mateo Correamagallanes is revered and venerated by the Catholic faithful worldwide for his unwavering faith and commitment to the Gospel.