Joseph Tàpies Sirvant and companions

These seven priests exercised their pastoral ministry in the parish of La Pobla de Segur and the surrounding districts of the Diocese of Urgell. Each of them distinguished himself by his daily dedication to the faithful: - Josep Tàpies i Sirvant was a parochial vicar and organist in La Pobla de Segur. A man of integrity and good counsel, he was also a composer (notably of a Stabat Mater). - Pasqual Araguàs i Guàrdia was the parish priest of Noals. Of a humble and gentle character, he devoted himself entirely to the good of others. - Pere Martret i Moles served as the steward (administrator) of La Pobla de Segur. - Silvestre Arnau i Pasqüet, a former student of the Spanish College in Rome, was a vicar in La Pobla de Segur. At 25, he was the youngest of the 107 priests of the Diocese of Urgell murdered during this period. - Josep Boher i Foix was the parish priest of La Pobleta de Bellveí. - Francesc Castells i Brenuy was the parish priest of Tiurana and steward of El Poal. - Josep-Joan Perot i Juanmartí, of French origin, was the parish priest of Sant Joan de Vinyafrescal. Apolitical and very beloved, he had devoted himself entirely to his community. In August 1936, as religious persecution raged in Catalonia, these seven priests were arrested and imprisoned in La Pobla de Segur. During their detention, they underwent harsh interrogations. They categorically refused to hide their priestly status or to profane their cassocks. They continued to celebrate Mass in captivity and strove to protect the Blessed Sacrament from profanation. On the morning of August 13, 1936, they were loaded onto a truck to be taken to the place of their execution. As they passed the parish church of La Pobla de Segur, they greeted the statue of the Virgin, crying out: 'Goodbye, Virgin of Ribera, we are going to heaven!'. They were shot at the gate of the cemetery of the neighboring village of Salàs de Pallars. Before dying, they forgave their executioners and encouraged one another by shouting with one voice: 'Long live Christ the King!'. One of them, Pasqual Araguàs, chose to walk barefoot to the place of his execution to imitate Jesus' ascent to Calvary.

The cause for the beatification of Josep Tàpies and his six companions was introduced by the Diocese of Urgell in order to have their martyrdom recognized in odium fidei (in hatred of the faith). On April 19, 2004, Pope John Paul II officially signed the decree recognizing their martyrdom, thus paving the way for their beatification.

The solemn celebration of the beatification took place on October 29, 2005, in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Initially scheduled for the spring, it had been postponed due to the death of John Paul II. The ceremony was presided over, in the name of Pope Benedict XVI, by Cardinal José Saraiva Martins, then Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

By the apostolic letter of October 29, 2005, Pope Benedict XVI set their liturgical feast day for August 13, the anniversary of their martyrdom.

The spirituality of these seven martyrs is deeply Eucharistic and Marian, marked by an absolute fidelity to the ministerial priesthood. Their heroic death bears witness to a pastoral charity lived out to the point of total self-giving, in intimate union with the Passion of Christ. By explicitly forgiving their executioners, they left a legacy of peace and evangelical reconciliation. Their relics rest today in the Cathedral of Saint Mary of La Seu d'Urgell, where they are venerated by the faithful. They remain a model of priestly identity and courage for the contemporary Church.