Juan Lucena Rivas
Who they were
Blessed Juan (Giovanni) Lucena Rivas belongs to the great company of martyrs of the religious persecution that broke out in Spain during the civil war of 1936. A priest of the diocese of Cordova, he exercised his ministry with discretion and pastoral competence, devoting himself especially to catechesis, the formation of young people and the care of his parishes. A man of considerable learning, he studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, excelling academically until illness forced him to break off his studies.
Arrested a few days after the outbreak of the anti-clerical persecution at Puente Genil, he was subjected to violence and humiliation purely because he was a priest, and according to witnesses at his beatification process met his death crying out twice 'Viva Cristo Rey'. He was beatified on 16 October 2021 together with nineteen other martyrs of the diocese of Cordova; his cause formally recognised his martyrdom, and his memory is kept on 27 July, the day of his death.
The miracles
As a martyr he was raised to the altars without a miracle.
Why that counted as sanctity
Priest of the diocese of Cordova shot in the 1936 persecution, reportedly crying 'Viva Cristo Rey'; beatified 16 October 2021.
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.
- Santi, beati e testimoni (santiebeati.it) - Beato Giovanni Lucena Rivas, by Giampietro Cattini
- Wikidata Q111295665 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
Checked against the sources listed on 22 September 2026. Corrections welcome.