Julián Heredia Zubía and 17 companions

The existence of these martyrs revolves around two centers of Cistercian contemplative life: The Abbey of Santa María de Viaceli (Cóbreces, Cantabria): Founded in 1908 by Trappist monks who came from the Abbey of Santa María del Desierto (France), thanks to a donation from the Bernaldo de Quirós family, this abbey holds major historical importance: it is the very first building constructed of reinforced concrete in Spain. The monks led a life of prayer and manual labor there, notably managing an agricultural school for the children of the region and producing a renowned cheese. In 1926, the monastery was elevated to the rank of abbey. Father Pío (Julián Heredia Zubía), who entered the Trappists of Getafe at the age of 14, was appointed novice master there in 1918 before becoming the prior of the community. Under his leadership, the monks were completely detached from the political struggles of the time. The Monastery of Fons Salutis (Algemesí, Valencia): This monastery of Cistercian nuns of the Congregation of Saint Bernard was founded in 1927. Mother María Micaela Baldoví Trull became its abbess, assisted by Mother María Natividad Medes Ferris. They lived there in enclosure, silence, and constant intercession.

As soon as the Spanish Civil War broke out in July 1936, religious persecution fell upon contemplative communities, wrongly perceived by anarchist militias as centers of rebellion or caches for weapons and money. The martyrdom of the monks of Viaceli: On September 8, 1936, the feast of the Nativity of the Virgin, the monastery of Viaceli was invaded by surprise. The militiamen destroyed sacred images and liturgical objects. The 38 monks present were arrested and transferred to Santander, where they were incarcerated in an improvised prison within the Salesian college. Thanks to the intervention of a former Salesian student, Ángel Aldasoro, the monks obtained a provisional release and dispersed in small groups into private homes in Santander to attempt to clandestinely maintain their life of prayer, while others fled toward Bilbao. However, the situation hardened. On December 1, 1936, Father Pío Heredia Zubía and several monks were arrested again and taken to the sinister checa (clandestine prison) managed by the socialist Neila. Subjected to violent interrogations and torture, Father Pío refused to give the names of those who were helping them. On the night of December 2 to 3, 1936, a first group of six monks (including Father Pío) was taken onto a barge bound for the open sea, outside the Bay of Santander. Because they were praying aloud, the militiamen sewed their mouths shut with wire before throwing them alive into the waters of the Bay of Biscay (Cantabrian Sea), weighted with heavy stones on their feet. The following night (December 3 to 4), a second group of five monks suffered the same tragic fate near the Cabo Mayor lighthouse. The other members of the community were hunted down and murdered on different dates until the end of December 1936. The martyrdom of the nuns of Fons Salutis: Expelled from their monastery in July 1936, the religious sisters sought refuge with their families. Mother María Micaela Baldoví Trull was discovered three months later, imprisoned, and then beheaded with her sister on the road to Valencia on November 9, 1936. Mother María Natividad Medes Ferris was arrested at her brother's home (the Blessed José Medes Ferris) and murdered on November 12, 1936, in Alcudia de Carlet.

The informative process regarding the martyrdom of the monks of Viaceli was officially introduced on July 15, 1996, by the Bishop of Santander, Mgr. José Vilaplana Blasco. In 2001, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints decreed the unification of this cause with that of the two Cistercian nuns of Fons Salutis (Algemesí). On January 23, 2015, Pope Francis authorized the promulgation of the decree officially recognizing the martyrdom of Julián Heredia Zubía (Father Pío) and his 17 companions. The beatification ceremony was celebrated on October 3, 2015, at the Cathedral of the Assumption of Santander. It was presided over by Cardinal Angelo Amato, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, representing Pope Francis, in the presence of numerous abbots, abbesses, and members of the Cistercian family.

The spirituality of this group of martyrs is deeply rooted in the Cistercian tradition: the search for God in silence, humility, work, and contemplation. Faced with the violence of persecution, they opposed it with the strength of prayer and fidelity to their monastic vows. Their martyrdom is marked by a dimension of heroic silence and forgiveness. The image of these monks thrown into the sea, their mouths sewn shut with wire to silence their prayers, remains a striking symbol of faith overcoming barbarism. They died while forgiving their executioners, in the image of Christ on the Cross. Today, the Abbey of Santa María de Viaceli in Cóbreces perpetuates their spiritual memory while continuing its mission of prayer and monastic hospitality on the shores of the Cantabrian Sea.