Francisco Castelló

Francisco Castelló Aleu (April 19th 1914 - September 29th 1936) is a Spanish young person shot by a popular court during the Spanish Civil war because of its faith catholic, and béatifié by the pope Jean-Paul II the March 11th 2001.

Biography

Francisco Castelló is born the April 19th 1914 with Alicante in Spain, third child of a modest family. Two months later, in June, his/her father Jose Castello dies carried by a disease. His/her mother Teresa Aleu then decides to turn over to Lleida where its family lives. In September 1922, the family moves with Juneda where Teresa is named teacher of the school of the village. As of this time, Francisco is pointed out by a very sharp faith which is taught to him by his/her mother, enthusiastic catholic. In 1923, it returns to the college of the Marist brothers of Lleida or it carries out all its secondary schooling. During this period, it with the pain to lose his/her mother who dies in her turn the March 10th 1929.

In 1930, it obtains its Baccalauréat and integrates Instituto Químico de Sarrià into Barcelona. There, it meets the father Jésuite Román Galán, under the direction of which it makes in 1932 the spiritual Exercises of holy Ignace within the framework of the Œuvre of the parochial exercises which marks it deeply. It indeed decides to devote most of its spare times to diffuse this work of evangelization. The February 6th 1934, it obtains its science degree of Chemistry of the university of Oviedo, and is then engaged by the production company of artificial fertilizers Cros of Lleida.

The 1^er July 1936, it is affected with the fortress of Lleida to carry out its military service there. The following day, this one falls to the hands from a “military committee” from Marxist tendency which stops it later a few days, the July 20th, under the charge to be a “fascist” because of his Catholic religion. Maltreated, it is locked up with a score of other soldiers in a small vault transformed into cell. The September 12th, it is transferred to the civil prison from the province where it endeavors to put at the service other prisoners, giving again to them courage by the means of a choral society, taking care of cleaning of the cells, etc

The September 29th, it compared in front of the “popular court”. The president starts by showing it Fascism: one indeed found in his office an Italian grammar and another allemande… As Francisco shows that it has them only for reasons professional, its indicter came then directly to the true reason from charge: “Let us stop in good once for all. Catholic Es you? - Yes, I am catholic. ” The prosecutor requires the capital punishment then. Invited to defend oneself, Francisco declares then: “If to be catholic is an offense, I very readily agree to be delinquent”. It is then condemned to be carried out the evening even. A few hours later it is led in the truck with six others condemned to the cemetery of the city where it is shot; it is then 23:30.

The March 11th 2001, it is declared “Bienheureux” by the pope Jean-Paul II.

Last letter

Little before its execution, in its cell, it had time to write three letters, with his/her aunt and her sisters, her confessor, and, most beautiful, in its promised in marriage Mariona - of which two brothers a few weeks earlier had been assassinated by the Republicans. Here this last letter:

Liked Mariona, Our existences were linked, and it rained with God to separate them. It is with him that I offer, with all the force of which I am able, the love that I carry you, an intense, pure and sincere love. I feel your pain, not mine. Would be proud: two brothers and your been engaged. Poor Mariona!

It arrives to me something of strange: I then to feel the least sorrow on my fate. A joy interior, strong, invades me completely, intensely. I would wish to address a sad letter to you, I cannot it, I am like flooded thoughts suaves a such presentiment of Glory.

I would have liked to speak you about all the force of my love, of the tenderness that I reserved to you, of the joys which we would have known together. But for me, all that is secondary. I will take a great step. I wish to tell you only one thing: if you can it, Marie. Sky, I will bless your union and your children. I do not want that you cry, not, I do not want it. Would be proud of me. I love you.

I do not have any more time to write some more.

Francisco.

See too

Internal bond

Martyrs of the war of Spain

External bond

Biography on the site of the Abbey Saint-Joseph de Clairval

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