San Pedro de Jesús Maldonado Lucero - Eucharistic Priest and Saint

Picture source: Catedral de Chihuahua (Mexico)

I learned about a new saint today in reading my Magnificat Magazine

As a parish priest, Father Pedro Maldonado Lucero, of Sacramento, Mexico was an advocate of all-night Eucharistic Adoration vigils and of Marian associations. He also instilled int eh people fidelity to the pope.

Early in 1937, while kneeling before the Blessed Sacrament during a holy hour, Father Maldonado prayed that at the time of his death, he would be able to receive Viaticum.

On Ash Wednesday, February 10, 1937, shortly after Father Maldonado had celebrated Mass, soldiers of Mexico's anti-Catholic government arrested him and forced him to walk barefoot all the way to the town where they were taking him. During this ordeal, he recited the rosary. After reaching the town, Father Maldonado was beaten over the head with a rifle butt to the point that his left eye was dislodged.

When the soldiers discovered that he was carrying a pyx containing the Blessed Sacrament, one of them ordered him to consume it, saying" Eat this, this your last communion!"

Thus Father Maldonado's prayer for Viaticum was answered. After further bloody beatings, Father Maldonado died from his injuries on February 11, 1937.

To learn more about San Pedro de Jesús Maldonado Lucero, please visit San Pedro Maldonado's Page maintained by the Cathedral of Chihuahua. It is in Spanish.