Antonio Arrué Peiró

Who they were

Antonio Arrué Peiró was born at Calatayud, near Zaragoza, on 27 April 1908, and learned wood carving from his father. In 1931 Father Ricardo Gil Barcelón took him in, and he became the priest's helper; he wanted to join the Little Work of Divine Providence founded by Don Luigi Orione, but the unrest of the time kept him from doing so, and he worked among the poor as a postulant.

On 1 August 1936 Father Ricardo was arrested; Antonio refused to hide and went back to be with him. Both were taken to El Saler, near Valencia, where the priest was shot and Antonio, running to help him, was struck a fatal blow to the head on 3 August 1936. He was declared a martyr in 2012 and beatified at Tarragona on 13 October 2013.

The miracles

As a martyr he was raised to the altars without a miracle.

Why that counted as sanctity

A young layman who chose to die beside the priest who had taken him in, rather than flee.

Connected on this site

• Luigi Orione Saint
  “In 1931 Father Ricardo Gil Barcelón took him in, and he became the priest's helper; he wanted to join the Little Work of Divine Providence founded by Don Luigi Orione, but the unrest of the time kept him from doing so, and he worked among the poor as a postulant.” — this site's research