The Episcopal Conference of El Salvador announced officially the Beatification of four of its martyrs, scheduled for January 22, 2022: Father Rutilio Grande Garcia, and his martyred companions Nelson Lemis, Manuel Solorzano, and Father Cosme Spessotto.
It’s a ceremony that has been awaited since 2020, the date on which Pope Francis approved the Decree recognizing his martyrdom, and which was postponed due to the COVID-19 health emergency. According to the Episcopate’s press release, the ceremony will be held in the capital, San Salvador. Pope Francis has appointed Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chavez as Special Delegate to preside over the celebration.
“We thank God and Pope Francis for this immense gift, the elevation to the altars of these four martyrs of our country: Rutilio, Nelson, Manuel, and Cosme. We invite all to prepare in the best way, to live with fruit this great event,” concludes the Bishops’ note.
Father Rutilio Grande Garcia and Companions
According to “Vatican News,” this Jesuit priest was murdered on March 12, 1977, just before celebrating Mass at El Paisnal, accompanied by Father Manuel Solorzano and Nelson Lemis. They were ambushed on the way and their car was machine-gunned.
Father Grande Garcia is known in El Salvador for his life, dedicated to the poorest, in a turbulent time in the country. His commitment and defense of the poorest was his death sentence. Also known was his great friendship with Saint Oscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdamez, who on learning of his murder felt profound grief, which accentuated his defense of the most underprivileged.
Father “Tilo,” as he was known by his people, was born on July 5, 1928, in El Paisnal, El Salvador. It was in that area that he lived his mission and commitment, and where he carried out his vocation as a Jesuit. After his death, thousands of people attended the mass presided over by Monsignor Romero in the Cathedral.
Friar Cosme Spessotto
A Franciscan priest, he was born on February 28, 1923, in a small village in the province of Treviso, Italy. In 1950 he traveled by ship from the Port of Genoa to El Salvador.
He was parish priest in San Juan Nonualso, Department of La Paz, for 27 years, where he built a church and founded a parish school for over one thousand children.
According to “Vatican News,” like Father Rutilio Grande Garcia, he lived through the 12 tense and violent years that preceded the civil war in El Salvador, which caused 80,000 deaths and great damage to the country’s infrastructure. On several occasions, the Franciscan priest rejected the taking of the San Juan Nonualco church by the guerrillas as well as by the Armed Forces. He was murdered out of “hatred of the faith” on June 14, 1980, while praying before the Mass.
Translation by Virginia M. Forrester
