Teodoro Illera del Olmo and 15 companions

The lives of these martyrs were centered around their pastoral commitments and their heroic charity:

* The Congregation of Saint Peter in Chains: Founded for the education and reintegration of marginalized youth and orphans, this congregation counted Father Teodoro Illera del Olmo (born Cirilo) among its members. Ordained a priest in 1914, he became a general councilor of his congregation in 1931, then superior of the house in Sant Feliu de Llobregat in 1936. Faithful to his mission to the youth of the Durán asylum, he refused to abandon them despite the threats. He was arrested and shot on July 27, 1936, in Pallejà with three of his confreres: Joaquín Gómez Peña, José Franco Ruiz, and Joaquín Puente González. Another member, Bernardo Puente González, was killed the same day in Montjuïc. Estanislao de Kostka Tajadura Marcos was martyred on September 18, 1936, in Alcañiz. * The Capuchin Sisters of the Mother of the Divine Shepherd: Dedicated to the Christian education of children, Sisters Patrocinio Vilanova Alsina, Andrea Solans Ballesté, and María Auxilio Noguera Manubens had to flee their community in Premià de Mar and Sarrià in July 1936. Sister Patrocinio was arrested and murdered on July 31, 1936, in Barcelona. Sisters Andrea and María Auxilio were arrested at the La Torrassa metro station and shot on August 1, 1936, in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, while confessing their faith and invoking the Sacred Heart of Jesus. * The Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Hearts: Sister Carlota de la Visitación (born Baudelia Duque Belloso) had been the personal secretary to the founder of her institute, Blessed Carmen of the Child Jesus. Expelled from her school in Lérida, she took refuge in Barcelona. Denounced by neighbors, she was arrested and shot on November 12, 1936, in Can Tunis. * The lay protectors: Gregorio Díez Blanco, his sister Camila Díez Blanco, and the young Eliseo Moradillo García welcomed and hid several religious of Saint Peter in Chains (including Ángel de la Iglesia Ociña, Ricardo Guerra Villaizán, and Acacio Calleja Santamaría) for more than seven months. Discovered by the militiamen, they were all arrested on February 15, 1937, taken to the Sant Elies checa, and executed that same day in La Rabassada.

The cause for the beatification of Teodoro Illera del Olmo and his 15 companions was introduced in the Archdiocese of Barcelona.

* The diocesan process was officially opened on January 25, 2007, and closed on November 26, 2010. * The decree of validity for the diocesan inquiry was issued by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints on June 27, 2012. * The Positio super martyrio was submitted to Rome in 2016. * On December 18, 2017, Pope Francis authorized the promulgation of the decree officially recognizing their martyrdom in hatred of the faith (in odium fidei).

The solemn celebration of the beatification took place on November 10, 2018, in the Basilica of the Sagrada Família in Barcelona. The ceremony was presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu, then Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, representing Pope Francis. During the Angelus the following day, November 11, 2018, Pope Francis honored the memory of these new blesseds, recalling that they had all been killed for their faith. Their common liturgical feast is set for November 6, the day of the collective memory of the martyrs of the religious persecution of the 20th century in Spain.

The spirituality of this group of martyrs is deeply marked by fraternal charity, a spirit of sacrifice, and the forgiveness of their persecutors. The religious of Saint Peter in Chains manifested absolute fidelity to their educational mission among the poorest youth, refusing to flee so as not to abandon them. The Capuchin and Franciscan sisters faced death with great inner peace, commending their souls to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Finally, the testimony of the three laypeople illustrates the heroism of charity: they risked and gave their lives to offer hospitality and protect persecuted consecrated persons, thus embodying the Gospel to the very end.