Rafael Maria de Mataró
Capuchin priest, martyr of the persecution in Spain (in the world Francesc de Paula Soteras Culla)
Who they were
Rafael Maria de Mataró was born at Mataró in the province of Barcelona on 12 April 1902, made his solemn profession on 13 April 1923 and was ordained priest on 1 February 1925. He was arrested at Barcelona on 1 August 1936, admitted that he was a friar, and was killed.
He was beatified on 21 November 2015 by Pope Francis, among the twenty-six Capuchin martyrs of Barcelona.
The miracles
As a martyr he was raised to the altars without a miracle.
Why that counted as sanctity
The Dicastery for the Causes of Saints names him among the twenty-six Spanish Capuchin martyrs of Barcelona beatified on 21 November 2015.
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.
- Dicastery for the Causes of Saints - 26-martiri-spagnoli-cappuccini-di-barcellona
- Dicastery for the Causes of Saints - beatifications of 21 November 2015
Checked against the sources listed on 22 September 2026. Corrections welcome.