Aita Patxi (Victoriano Gondra Muruaga)
Basque Passionist brother who offered his life in place of prisoners in the Civil War
Who they were
Victoriano Gondra Muruaga, known as Aita Patxi, was a Passionist from Líbano de Arrieta in Biscay who served as chaplain to the Rebelión de la Sal battalion and, as a prisoner, offered himself to be shot in place of two other men.
The miracles
No miracle has been approved. The decree on heroic virtues has been promulgated; a miracle would come next.
Why that counted as sanctity
The diocese of Bilbao reports the vice-postulator of the cause of the Venerable, Juan Bautista Santamaría, presiding at the close of his birth centenary in 2011; the cause opened on 15 November 1989 and the decree on his heroic virtues was promulgated on 15 March 2008.
The cause
The cause continues. No postulation address is published here yet. Favours received through this person’s intercession, and offers of help, are best sent to the religious order or congregation they belonged to, or to the diocese where the cause was opened; either will pass them to the postulation.
Checked against the sources listed on 24 September 2026. Corrections welcome.