On 28th October, 2007, in Saint Peter’s Square Rome, Cardinal Saraiva Martins beatified 498 martyrs who had died in Spain during the civil war. Among them were 32 Discalced Carmelites, including Fr. Eufrasio of the Child Jesus and Fr. Eusebius of the Child Jesus who led a group of 15 martyrs in Toledo.
On the first year anniversary, a Solemn Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated in the church of the Discalced Carmelites of Toledo, Spain. It was presided by the Postulator General of the Order, Fr. Romano Gambalunga, OCD.
The celebrations kicked of with a procession through the streets of Toledo with the relics of the martyrs. They were accompanied by 16 palms and 16 candles which were lit in the church entrance in memory of each one of the martyrs. In the morning, Fr. José Vicente Rodríguez, OCD, Vice – Postulator of the Cause, gave a conference entitled: ‘A community of martyrs’.
Family members of the martyrs, the sisters and fathers from the monasteries in Toledo, took part in the Mass. A glass window made by Laura Gutiérrez, with the words which one of the martyrs, Fr. Tirso, spoke to his family before being martyred: ‘Forgive, bless and love to all’ was inaugurated for the occasion.
