St. José Luis Sánchez del Río

José Luis Sánchez del Río was a Mexican teenager recognised by the Church as a martyr.

Life: 1913–1928
Canonised: 2016

Life and vocation

He came from Sahuayo, Michoacán, and joined the Cristeros during the conflict over religious freedom in Mexico. Captured in 1928, he refused to renounce his Catholic faith.

Faith in action

He was killed at fourteen. His canonisation in 2016 recognised his witness to Christ under persecution. Remembering his life calls for attention to its historical setting and to the suffering of a child caught in violence.

For readers in England

This English-language edition serves readers in the United Kingdom; its regional selection and calendar specifically follow England. John Henry Newman and Thomas More provide starting points for exploring that history.

This biography is not a liturgical reading. For the observances in your area, consult the local calendar and your diocese.

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