José Santos Ortega
Priest of the Congregation of the Mission, martyr of the persecution in Spain
Who they were
Born at Rubé de las Calzadas, near Burgos, on 18 September 1882 and ordained priest on 9 August 1908, he was put in charge of the novices, later taught the seminarians of Oviedo and Madrid and served at the Basilica of the Miraculous Medal; he had two brothers who were priests and two sisters who were Daughters of Charity, and he was killed on 23 September 1936. Pope Francis beatified him with José María Fernández Sánchez and his companions on 11 November 2017.
The miracles
As a martyr he was raised to the altars without a miracle.
Why that counted as sanctity
The decree on martyrdom records that he was killed on 23 September, in the year 1936 given for the whole group.
The cause
The cause continues. No postulation address is published here yet. Favours received through this person’s intercession, and offers of help, are best sent to the religious order or congregation they belonged to, or to the diocese where the cause was opened; either will pass them to the postulation.
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis 111 (2019), p. 217 - decree on martyrdom
- Dicastery for the Causes of Saints - beatifications of 11 November 2017
Checked against the sources listed on 22 September 2026. Corrections welcome.