Wilfrid Parsons (1)

Mexican Martyrdom is an account of the persecution of the Catholic Church by the Mexican government from 1926 to 1935, as gathered from personal accounts of those who endured those events and managed to get word out as well as from the author's travels through that country. It is not the best-organized of books, but the material contained within its covers is remarkable in its breadth and detail.

Beginning in the 1920s, the government of Mexico was led by a series of anti-clerical dictators who attempted to end religion and bring the revolution to their country. This resulted in the banning of priests and nuns, the closing of churches, schools, hospitals and any other organization associated with the Church, and the persecution of anyone who did not fall in line with the government. The most famous of these martyrs if Blessed Miguel Pro, SJ, a young Mexican Jesuit priest who was rounded up and executed for an assassination attempt that he had nothing to do with. But there were many others. The book also documents the US government's refusal to intervene (that often looked like support for the Mexican government) as well as the delicate line that the Mexican bishops tried to balance in order to find some way to survive until things got better.

Parsons was an American priest who visited Mexico during this era and had first-hand knowledge of the situation there. Highly recommended for anyone interested in Mexican history or 20th century Christian persecution, as well as anyone who has read [The Power and the Glory] and wants to know more.… (plus d'informations)