June 15th, 2023

Manuel Morales Cervantes, president of the National League for the Defense of Religious Liberty in Mexico during the Cristero War, was arrested a few days after a League meeting, during which he said, "The league should be peaceful and not interfere in political affairs. Our project is to implore the government to remove the articles of the Constitution that prevent religious freedom."

Imprisoned in the town hall, he was beaten and tortured, until August 15, 1926, when soldiers removed him from his cell and drove him to the mountains near Chalchihuites.

Accused of conspiring to revolt against the government, he was brought forward with another who begged for Morales' freedom, because he had children to support.

Morales said, "I am dying for God, and God will care for my children."

As the firing squad raised their rifles, Morales shouted, "Long live Christ the King and Our Lady of Guadalupe!"