MERCY TOURS
Your Catholic pilgrimage resource
A Spiritual and Cultural experience
Martyr and Master of Disguises
1891-1927
Miguel Agustin Pro was born January 13, 1891, in Guadalupe de Zacates,Mexico. From his childhood, he was known for his high spirits and happy personality. The son of an affluent mining engineer and a pious and charitable mother, Miguel had a special affinity for the working classes.
At 20, he became a Jesuit novice and shortly afterwards was exiled due to the Mexican revolution. He traveled to the United States, Spain, Nicaragua and Belgium, where he was ordained in 1925. Father Pro suffered greatly from a severe stomach disorder. When his health did not improve after several surgeries, his superiors permitted him to return to Mexico in 1926.
At this time, the revolutionary government in Mexico had banned all religious practice. The churches were closed and priests were in hiding. The government was particularly focused on finding and persecuting priests.
Father Pro became a great master of disguise and spent the remainder of his life in a secret ministry to the Mexican Catholics who helped hide him from the authorities. Eluding the authorities, he appeared at times as a street sweeper (shown at right), wealthy businessman (also at right--notice the policeman strolling by unaware of Father Pro) or many other characters that he assumed. One time he actually went in to a police station to ask directions!
In addition to fulfilling their spiritual needs, Fr. Pro also assisted the poor of Mexico City with their temporal needs. In all that he did, he remained filled with the joy of serving Christ, his King.
He and his brother Roberto were arrested on trumped-up charges of attempting to assassinate Mexico’s president. Roberto was spared but Miguel was sentenced to face a firing squad on November 23, 1927.
Shown below is the photograph taken at his exectution. ¡Viva Cristo Rey! (Long live Christ the King) were the last words Father Pro uttered before he was executed for being a Catholic priest and serving his flock. Despite the efforts of the authoritarian regime his funeral procession, as shown below at right, drew thousands of the faithful.
