The Martyrs of Almeria Spanish Civil War of 1936

"Shortly after the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936, the Popular Front in the Province of Almeria gave orders to arrest all enemies of the revolution, especially priests and religious. Five of the Brothers were arrested at their school, two were taken prisoner in the street while on their way to mail letters to their families. Along with many others, these prisoners were confined in a series of makeshift prisons where they were subjected to privation, mistreatment, and ridicule. On the night of 29 August, the two bishops, along with 15 others, were taken to an isolated spot where they were lined up and shot. On the next night, 30 August, Brothers Edmigio, Amalio, and Valerio were taken to the outskirts of Tabermas where they were shot in the head and their bodies thrown into a deep well. On 8 September, Brothers Evencio and Teodomiro were shot near the roadside where their bodies were left. Brothers Aurelio and Jose met a similar fate on 12 September, their bodies also thrown into a well. Bishops and Brothers alike were condemned to death without trial for their crime of professing and teaching the Catholic faith." Brother Edmigio (Isidoro Primo Rodriguez Gonzalez) was born in Adalia, Spain on April 4, 1881. He entered the novitiate on October 8, 1898. He was shot on August 30, 1936, at age fifty-five, having been a De La Salle Christian Bother for thirty-eight years. Brother Amalio (Justo Zariquiegui Mendoza) was born in Salinas de Oro, Spain, on August 6, 1886. He entered the novitiate on September 13, 1902. He was shot on August 30, 1936, at age fifty, having been a De La Salle Christian Brother for thirty-four years. Brother Valerio Bernardo (Marciano Herrero Martinez) was born in Porquera, Spain on July 11, 1909. He entered the Novitiate on February 1, 1926. He was shot on August 30, 1936 at age twenty-seven, having been a De La Salle Christian Brother for ten years. Brother Teodomiro Joaquin (Adrian Saiz Saiz) was born at Puentedey, Spain, on September 8, 1907 and entered the novitiate on August 15, 1923. He was shot on his 29th birthday on September 8, 1936, having been a De La Salle Christian Brother for thirteen years. Brother Evencio Ricardo (Eusebio Alonso Uyarra) was born in Viloria, Spain, on March 5, 1907 and entered the novitiate on February 2, 1923. He was shot on September 8, 1936 at age twenty-nine, having been a De La Salle Christian Brother for thirteen years. Brother Aurelio Maria (Bienvenido Villalon Acebron) was born at Zafra de Zancara, Spain, on March 22, 1890, and entered the novitiate on August 22, 1909. He was executed on September 12, 1936, at age forty-six, having been a De La Salle Christian Brother for thirty years. Brother Jose Cecilio (Bonifacio Rodriguez Gonzalez) was born on May 15, 1885, in La Molina de Ubierna, Spain, and entered the novitiate on November 21, 1901. He was shot to death on September 12, 1936, at age fifty-one, having been a De La Salle Christian Brother for thirty-five years. As these Brothers were executed on three different days we have chosen to commemorate their lives on August 30 in the Midwest District memorial calendar.