Toribio Romo González

Saint Toribio (in Latin Thuribius) Romo González (April 16, 1900 – February 25, 1928) was a Roman Catholic priest and Mexican martyr who died in the Cristero War.

He was born on April 16, 1900, in Santa Ana de Guadalupe, Jalostotitlán, Mexico, the son of Patricio Romo Perez and Juana González Romo, In 1912 he entered the Auxiliary Seminary in San Juan de los Lagos. In 1922 he was ordained as a priest and offered his first Mass on January 5, 1923. He primarily emphasized catechesis. When the religious persecutions began in 1927 he was ordered by the government to confine himself to his residence and was not allowed to pray the Rosary in public or to celebrate Mass.

He served in parishes in Sayula, Tuxpan, Yahualica and Cuquío. When the anti-clerical persecutions began he took up residence in an old factory near Agua Caliente, and used it as a refuge where he continued to celebrate Mass. He was ready to die for God, but he did feel fear and asked for God’s grace and strength.

On Friday, February 24, 1928, he spent his day organizing the parish registry. Two days before he had sent his brother away for safety. Fr. Toribio finished his work at 4:00am on February 25 and decided to sleep a little. An hour later the government troops arrived and broke into the bedroom where Fr. Toribio was sleeping. One soldier shouted: "Here is the priest, kill him!" He said, "Here I am, but do not kill me."

One soldier fired, and Fr. Toribio rose from his bed and took a few steps until a second bullet caused him to fall into the arms of his sister, who cried in a loud voice: "Courage, Father Toribio...merciful Christ, receive him! Long live Christ the King!"

Chapel dedicated to Fr. Toribio in the main church of Tequila, Jalisco

Father Toribio Romo was beatified by Pope John Paul II on November 22, 1992 and canonized on May 21, 2000. His feast day is May 21.

There is a belief among some Mexicans that Toribio Romo has appeared to some who cross the border illegally to assist them in distress. In the late 1970s migrants began telling stories about St. Toribio's coming to their rescue.