Martyrs of Tarragona (Elipius of Saint Teresa and 146 Companions)

In July 1936 in Spain, after the political elections and the triumph of the left, there were criminal actions not only against political exponents but also against the religious. Contempt for religion and anticlerical attacks manifested themselves in the burning of churches and monasteries.

On July 21, 1936 the revolutionaries arrived at the Church of the Carmelite Fathers and with an iron bar opened the door and entered the Church with gasoline cans; a quarter of an hour later the Church turned into a fireball. The church of the Carmelites reduced to ashes, the monastery was transformed into a prison. The Carmelite Fathers, to escape the persecution of the revolutionaries, took refuge with friends and, discovered by the militiamen, professed with a serene spirit that they were religious, which is why they were killed. The killing of the three Discalced Carmelite fathers, the four Discalced Carmelite lay Brothers and the four «Carmelite Tertiary Brothers of Education» (a congregation founded by Bl. Francesco Palau, OCD) took place in the period between 25 July 1936 and 11 November 1936. Their names are:

Elipio of Saint Teresa (Felipe Arce Fernández), Professed Priest OCD, (1878-1836)

Pere of Saint Elijah (Pedro de Eriz Eguiluz), Professed Priest OCD, (1867-1836)

Damià of the Most Holy Trinity (Damián Rodríguez Pablos) Professed Religious OCD, (1896-1836)

Josep Cecili of Jesus Mary (Josep Alberich Lluch), Professed Religious OCD, (1866-1836)

Vicent of the Cross (Vicent Gallen Ibáñez), Professed Priest OCD, (1908-1836)

Àngel of Saint Joseph (Joan Fort Rius), Professed Religious OCD, (1896-1836)

Carles of Jesus Mary (Carles Barrufet Tost), Professed Religious OCD, (1888-1836)

Juli Alameda Camarero, Carmelite Tertiary Brother of Education, (1911-1836)

Isidre Tarsà Giribets, Carmelite Tertiary Brother of Education, (1866-1836)

Lluís Domingo Oliva, Carmelite Tertiary Brother of Education, (1892-1836)

Bonaventura Toldrà Rodon, Carmelite Tertiary Brother of Education, (1896-1836)

They were beatified on October 13, 2013, in the Archdiocese of Tarragona (Spain), along with 522 other martyrs who offered their lives for the faith during the Spanish Civil War.