Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity Parish

St. Toribio Romo

Short Bio 
St. Toribio Romo González was a Mexican priest and martyr from Jalisco in the early 1900’s. He’s known for his strong devotion to the Eucharist and catechesis to the poor. During a time of religious persecution in Mexico, government troops shot and killed him.

Biography
St. Toribio Romo González (1900 – 1928) was born in Santa Ana de Guadalupe, near Jalisco, Mexico. He entered seminary at the age of 13 and was ordained a priest in 1922 when he was only 22. As a priest, he dedicated himself to serving the faithful in the midst of the Cristero War, a period of intense religious persecution in Mexico during the 1920s and 1930s.

Despite the danger posed by the anti-Catholic government, Romo continued to carry out his pastoral duties. He provided sacraments, offered spiritual guidance, promoted devotion to the Eucharist, and was frequently forced more and more to do so in secret or under the cover of night. He became known for his compassion and selflessness, often risking his own safety to bring consolation and hope to the persecuted Catholic community, and catechesis, as well as the Eucharist, to the poor.

In the late 1920’s, a formal law was passed that imposed strict penalties on priests who were found exercising their priestly ministries. Despite the risks, Romo continued to celebrate Mass and administer the sacraments to those in remote areas. For a time, he had to hide in an abandoned distillery in the town of Tequila in order to avoid violence, and celebrated Mass there for the community.

Tragically, on February 25, 1928, Romo was murdered. He was shot twice by government troops who broke into his bedroom while he was asleep. His martyrdom became a powerful testimony to the enduring strength of the Catholic Church in Mexico in the face of discrimination. St. Toribio Romo, pray for us!