American History

A Prayer of the Cristeros of Jalisco

Elaine M. Jordan

The Cristeros movement was a counter-revolutionary

reaction of the Mexican Catholic people to the severe
anticlerical laws emanating from the Constitution of 1917
under President Calles. It sought to secularize the country
and remove the influence of the Catholic Church. Laws were
enacted that severely restricted the clergy's political activities,
expelled foreign priests, closed the Catholic schools and
seized Church properties. Later, churches were closed and
the Mass forbidden.

The popular uprising against the Calles government began in

Jalisco in the city of Guadalajara, on August 3, 1926, when
some 400 armed Catholics shut themselves up in the Church
of Our Lady of Guadalupe. They were involved in a shootout
with federal troops and surrendered only when they ran out of
ammunition. Jalisco became a focal point of the Cristeros
counter-revolution. The Cristeros' battle cry was ¡Viva Cristo
Rey! ¡Viva la Virgen de Guadalupe! ("Long live Christ the
King! Long live the Virgin of Guadalupe!").

The prayer below was said by the Cristeros of Jalisco at the

end of the Rosary.

My Jesus Mercy! My sins are more numerous than the

drops of blood that Thou did shed for me. I do not deserve
to belong to the army that defends the rights of Thy
Church and that fights for her. I desire never to sin again
so that my life might be an offering pleasing to Thy eyes.
Wash away my iniquities and cleanse me of my sins. By
Thy Holy Cross, by my Holy Mother of Guadalupe, pardon
me.

Since I do not know how to make penance for my sins, I

desire to receive death as a chastisement merited by
them. I do not wish to fight, live or die except for Thee and
for Thy Church. Blessed Mother of Guadalupe, be at my
side in the agony of this poor sinner. Grant that my last
shout on earth and my first canticle in Heaven should be
Viva Cristo Rey! Amen

Cristeros present arms to Our Lord at a Mass said in southern Jalisco

Posted November 13, 2009

Related Topics of Interest

The Cristeros I: The Spaniards Land in Mexico

The Cristeros II: Long Live the Virgin of Guadalupe!

The Cristeros III: Hildalgo Raises the Standard of

Revolt

Catholicism in Colonial America

La Conquistadora: Our Country's Oldest Madonna

Ven. Antonio Margil of Jesus: Apostle of New Spain

and Texas

The Cabalgata of Christ the King

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