Nelson Rutilio Lemus
Lay youth, martyr of El Salvador
Who they were
Nelson Rutilio Lemus was born at El Paisnal on 10 November 1960, the eldest of twelve children, and as a young man used to go with Father Rutilio Grande García on his pastoral rounds; he was shot dead in the car with him on 12 March 1977, aged 16. He was beatified on 22 January 2022 by Pope Francis among Rutilio Grande García and two lay companions.
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 the three were killed in hatred of the faith and for their Christian apostolate, not for any political quarrel.
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.
Connected on this site
- Rutilio Grande Blessed“Nelson Rutilio Lemus was born at El Paisnal on 10 November 1960, the eldest of twelve children, and as a young man used to go with Father Rutilio Grande García on his pastoral rounds; he was shot dead in the car with him on 12 March 1977, aged 16.” — this site's research
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis 113 (2021), p. 311 - decree on martyrdom
- Dicastery for the Causes of Saints - rutilio-grande-garcia-e-2-compagni
- Dicastery for the Causes of Saints - beatifications of 22 January 2022
Checked against the sources listed on 22 September 2026. Corrections welcome.