Mexican becomes first bishop born in Americas to be named saint

Published: 2006-10-11

VERACRUZ, Mexico (CNS) -- In an Oct. 15 papal ceremony at the Vatican, Blessed Rafael Guizar Valencia is scheduled to become the first bishop born in the Americas to be declared a saint. As a priest during the anti-clerical era that marked the start of the 20th century in his native Mexico, he often disguised himself as a junk dealer to bring the sacraments to both sides fighting the Mexican Revolution which started in 1910. After the revolution when anti-clerical measures were adopted by the new government, he lived in exile in Cuba, Colombia, Guatemala and the southern United States to escape persecution. He was ordained bishop of Veracruz in absentia in 1919 while living in Havana. Blessed Rafael was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He will be the seventh Knight and the first bishop-member of the organization to be declared a saint. The Knights started forming councils in Mexico in 1905.

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