Claretian Formation

FRANCIS CRUSATS, PROTOMARTYR OF THE CONGREGATION (1868)

The first sparks of the storm flashed in 1864. As early as then Fr. Serrat in Segovia took some precautions thinking of places of refuge and even counting on the not at all unlikely contingency of people’s being assassinated, given the anti-religious character the Revolution seemed to be taking.

In the height of the revolution the Claretian Missionaries of La Selva del Campo heard rumours that they would be beheaded unless they renounced their vocation. Fr. Crusats answered: “Lord, pierce my heart lest I abandon my vocation. Would that I could shed my blood for Christ!” The revolutionaries arrived at the house on 29 September. No one resisted them. Fr. Reixach, in a moment of negligence and taking advantage of the night’s darkness, escaped after knocking down one of the captors. They took revenge with Fr. Crusats. Enraged with fury, they beat him up till he lost consciousness and then shot him twice. But Crusats was still alive. At last they pierced his throat with a dagger and he died on the spot. Fr. Crusats was the Congregation’s first martyr.

When the news reached Fr. Claret, he wrote: “I eagerly wished to be the first martyr of the Congregation; but I was not worthy, another one beat me to it. I congratulate the martyr and saintly Crusats and compliment Fr. Reixach for the privilege of being wounded. I give my congratulations to the entire Congregation too, for the bliss of being persecuted.”