Józef Izabel Flores Varela

Who they were

José Isabel Flores Varela was born at Santa María de la Paz, Zacatecas, on 28 November 1866. For 26 years he was chaplain of Matatlán, a father to his people in his poverty, self-denial and piety.

An old companion he had once protected denounced him, and he was imprisoned on 18 June 1927 and killed. He was one of the 25 martyrs of the Mexican persecution, led by St Cristóbal Magallanes, most of them priests killed for exercising their ministry.

The miracles

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

Why that counted as sanctity

A chaplain betrayed by a friend he had helped.