Francisco Cástor Sojo López and 3 companions

The life and work of these four priests are intimately linked to the charism of the Brotherhood of Diocesan Worker Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, founded in 1883 in Tortosa by Blessed Manuel Domingo y Sol. The main mission of this brotherhood is the promotion, accompaniment, and formation of priestly vocations within diocesan seminaries. Francisco Cástor Sojo López dedicated the essential part of his ministry to the formation of future priests. He served as a formator and prefect in the seminaries of Toledo, Badajoz, Segovia, Astorga, and, from 1933, as administrator of the seminary of Ciudad Real. Passionate about music, he distinguished himself by teaching Gregorian chant to the seminarians. Millán Garde Serrano deployed his activity as a formator, professor, administrator, or spiritual director in numerous seminaries in Spain (Toledo, Badajoz, Valladolid, Salamanca, Astorga, Plasencia, León) as well as in Mexico (Cuernavaca and Querétaro). Manuel Galcerá Videllet held positions as administrator, prefect, or spiritual director in the seminaries of Zaragoza, Badajoz, Barcelona, Valladolid, Ciudad Real, Belchite, and Baeza. He was also vice-rector of the Pontifical Spanish College of Saint Joseph in Rome and exercised his ministry in Mexico (Cuernavaca and Querétaro). In 1934, he was appointed spiritual director at the seminary of Baeza. Aquilino Pastor Cambero, the youngest of the group, was appointed immediately after his ordination in 1935 to the seminary of Baeza (diocese of Jaén) as prefect of students, professor of Latin, and librarian. He dedicated himself with joy and zeal to the spiritual accompaniment of the young seminarians.

With the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in July 1936, religious persecution intensified dramatically. Aware of the mortal risks they faced due to their priesthood, these four priests chose to remain faithful to their ministry until the end.

The martyrdom of Francisco Cástor Sojo López: On July 23, 1936, militiamen invaded the seminary of Ciudad Real. Father Francisco took temporary refuge in a local boarding house with the rector, Blessed José Pascual Carda. Arrested on September 12, 1936, he was detained in the seminary, which had been converted into a prison, and then shot on the night of September 12-13, 1936, near the sanctuary of Alarcos, on the outskirts of Ciudad Real.

The martyrdom of Aquilino Pastor Cambero and Manuel Galcerá Videllet: After the violent closure of the Baeza seminary on July 20, 1936, the two priests hid together in a private home. Arrested by militiamen, they were incarcerated in the basement of the Baeza town hall. On August 28, 1936, the anniversary of his first Mass, Father Aquilino (25 years old) was taken from his cell and shot in the territory of the municipality of Úbeda (Jaén). Witnesses reported that he went to his martyrdom with a joyful face, shouting "Long live Christ the King!". Father Manuel Galcerá Videllet (59 years old) was shot a few days later, on September 3, 1936, at a place called Capones, near Ibros (Jaén), along with about thirty other people.

The martyrdom of Millán Garde Serrano: Surprised by the war while on vacation in his native village, he lived in hiding for more than a year and a half, continuing to exercise his ministry in secret (celebrating Mass, hearing confessions, and bringing communion to the faithful). Discovered and denounced on April 9 or 10, 1938, he was imprisoned in Cuenca, first in the seminary and then in the former convent of the Discalced Carmelites, which had been converted into a prison. Subjected to fierce torture, which he endured with patience and a spirit of forgiveness toward his executioners, he died of exhaustion and mistreatment on July 7, 1938, in the Cuenca prison.

The beatification process for these four priests, initially conducted through separate diocesan inquiries in Ciudad Real, Cuenca, and Jaén, was unified by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints on March 30, 2009. Decree on martyrdom: On September 29, 2020, Pope Francis authorized the promulgation of the decree recognizing that their death was an authentic martyrdom suffered in hatred of the faith (in odium fidei). Beatification ceremony: It was celebrated on October 30, 2021, in the Cathedral Basilica of Santa Maria in Tortosa (Catalonia, Spain). The celebration was presided over by Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, acting as delegate for Pope Francis. Liturgical feast: The liturgical memorial of the group is set for October 25. Individually, they are also commemorated on the day of their birth into heaven: July 7 for Millán Garde Serrano, August 28 for Aquilino Pastor Cambero, September 3 for Manuel Galcerá Videllet, and September 13 for Francisco Cástor Sojo López.

The spirituality of these four blessed is deeply rooted in the charism of the Fraternity of Diocesan Worker Priests: a passionate love for the priesthood, an intense devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and a Eucharistic piety marked by the spirit of reparation. Their testimony of faith and forgiveness in the face of violence constitutes a precious legacy for the Church. Father Millán Garde Serrano, affectionately nicknamed "the mad priest" by his cellmates because of his unalterable joy despite the beatings, left a heroic example of reconciliation by praying for his torturers. The young Father Aquilino Pastor Cambero, for his part, embodied apostolic zeal for the youth until the very end. With their beatification in 2021, the Fraternity of Diocesan Worker Priests completed its "crown of martyrs," bringing to thirty the number of its members raised to the altars for having offered their lives during the religious persecution of the 20th century in Spain. Pope Francis hailed them as "zealous and generous pastors," models of absolute fidelity for all priests.