Blessed Enrique Saiz Aparicio, Salesian Priest and Martyr

He was born in Ubierna (Burgos) on December 1, 1889 and was baptized the following day. At 16, feeling the inclination to the religious and priestly life, he was admitted to the novitiate of Sarrià (Barcelona) and professed September 5, 1909. He was ordained at Salamanca, July 28, 1918. It was his field of apostolate colleges of Campello, Barcelona, Madrid and Salamanca, he was Director of Salamanca in Madrid, and then the student Theological Carabanchel Alto (Madrid), where he was surprised by the revolution. He distinguished himself for piety, zeal and dedication to the priesthood. Was more cautious, fatherly and understanding, while requiring the fulfillment of duty, which he gave the example. With sustained effort and continuous gained great amiability, constancy of character and spirit of mortification. Back in 1934, feeling closer to the revolution, he was preparing the minds of his martyrdom. On July 20, 1936 the House of Carabanchel Alto was attacked by militants. Don Enrique offered to die for everyone, but his offer was not accepted. All were jailed and destined for death. Then put back in freedom, the Servant of God sought a shelter for each and continued his interest in the fate of all. October 2, 1936, the militia, knowing the Priest, imprisoned him, and around 10 in the evening shot him. He was Beatified October 28, 2007.

In the vast inhuman massacre that was the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), the number of victims exceeded one million, striking persons of every class and every faith. By now, historians have recognized that within this terrible massacre, in the territories then called “red zone” in the hands of anarchists and the social community, there was a real persecution against Christians. The lay faithful only because Christians, were killed tens of thousands massacred and 4148 diocesan priests, 12 bishops, 283 nuns, 2365 religious (priests and brothers) for a total so far acknowledged that martyrs 6808 with destruction of many churches. Religious Every family gave its toll with a more or less high number of victims: the family of the Salesians of Don Bosco in this list is present with 97 members, belonging to three flourishing ‘ provinces’ of the Salesians and a ‘inspectors’ of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, divided as follows: 39 priests, 26 assistants, 22 clerks, 5 Salesian cooperators, 3 prospective Salesians and the Daughters of Mary Help. Salesian Martyrs are grouped into three local families: Valencia, Seville and Madrid. Those of Valencia were declared blessed in 2001.


The group of 42 martyrs of Madrid, is the largest headed by Salesian priest, Don Enrique Saiz Aparicio, who was born in the Ubierna on December 1, 1889 in the province of Burgos. He spent his childhood amid significant family difficulties, which affected the formation of his character, after having attended Salesian studying some houses, he made his first profession in 1909 in Barcelona – Sarria. After his studies in philosophy, he alternated his job as an educator between Salamanca and Madrid, excelling in literary qualities and no lack of evidence and concerns because of his tough character, even though he went dominating as he came closer to priestly ordination, which he received in 1918. There followed six years of intense activity between Salesian always Salamanca and Madrid, and was later first director of the College of Salamanca, and then those Carabauchel and Atocha in Madrid. His character changed completely becoming hard serene, charitable; he intensified his ascetic preparation, his spiritual direction, his inner life, his preaching in particular Eucharistic-Marian. And in the task of animating the Community and the aspirant Salesian Carabachel Alto on the outskirts of Madrid, he was surprised by the outbreak of the Civil War. Father Enrico Saiz Aparicio for some time seemed to have the martyrdom, in fact he told his brother: If God wanted me to Mars, back one step in front of the divine will; I will accept martyrdom with serenity . On the afternoon of July 20, 1936, The aspirant was stormed by gunmen red; Father Saiz gathered the kids in the hall and gave them his blessing Mary Help of Christians, then waved a white handkerchief headed toward the attackers, saying: “If you want blood, here I am. But you do not harm the boys. The aspirants were returned to their families and father and eight Salesians Saiz, with the usual tactics of the militia, were left free to be re-arrested outside the house and then eliminated one by one. Don Enrique Saiz was executed October 2, 1936, aged 47, the other Salesian martyrs, mostly young novices and students to Mohernando, were arrested during those six months at the end of 1936 and killed in varying days and places, a large group died December 6 1936. The blood of martyrs is the seed of new Christians and in the next 40 years, the Salesian Family, underwent a very large flowering of vocations to Salesian in Spain. The process for beatification of the 42 Salesian Martyrs in Madrid, began on December 7, 1957. Recently, this case was merged with that of the group of martyrs Salesians of Seville, formerly called Servant of God Antonio Luque and 20 Torrero comrades. The new joint process, thus including all 63 Martyrs Salesian in Madrid and Seville.


The beatification ceremony took place in Rome on 28 October 2007, under the pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI.

Author: Antonio Borrelli

Source: Santi e Beati