Justo Gil Pardo

Who they were

Born on 18 October 1910 at Lúquin in Navarre, Spain, into a large and deeply Christian family of eleven children, Justo Gil Pardo joined the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate as a young man, showing spiritual maturity and musical gifts — he directed his community's choir. By the time of his death he had finished three years of theology and received the subdiaconate on his way to the priesthood; his sister Nieves, a key witness in the beatification process, remembered him as cheerful and conciliatory, holding that holiness and joy were not opposed.

When the Spanish Civil War broke out in 1936, Justo was arrested because he was a religious. On the night of 28 November 1936, he and twelve fellow Oblates were taken from prison to Paracuellos de Jarama near Madrid and shot; witnesses said the group met death without protest, forgiving their executioners. The Church officially recognised their martyrdom on 17 December 2011, and Pope Benedict XVI beatified Justo Gil Pardo with this group of Oblate martyrs.

The miracles

As a martyr he was raised to the altars without a miracle.

Why that counted as sanctity

Oblate of Mary Immaculate shot with twelve confreres at Paracuellos de Jarama on 28 November 1936 during the Spanish Civil War; beatified 2011.

The cause