Blessed Elias del Socorro Nieves, priest and martyr

Marco Elias Nieves del Castillo was born into a poor but devout peasant family on 21st September 1882 in Yuriria, Guanajuato province, Mexico. A sickly child, baptised in danger of death, he grew up in poor health and difficult family circumstances. When 12 he nearly died from TB. Shortly afterwards his father was killed by bandits and Elias was needed to support his family. He had little opportunity for education and suffered from very poor eyesight.

When 22 (a «late» vocation at the time) and despite his poor health and lack of education he was accepted into the new Augustinian seminary in Yuriria. He made his religious profession in 1911, taking the name Elias «del Socorro (Help)» in honour of Our Lady and in gratitude for the special help he felt he had frequently received in his life.

Elias was ordained priest in 1916. In 1921 he was assigned as priest of the small country town of La Canada de Caracheo in 1921. Here he lived and worked with his people in a poor and backward area without schools, sanitation or electricity and helped finish the modest parish church. It was a very difficult time for the Church in Mexico. Graham Greene in his novel «The Power and the Glory» describes very vividly the situation of the Church and that of the priests in 1920’s Mexico. Anticlericalism and outright persecution came to a head during the Calles presidency of 1924-28.

Fr Elias refused to abandon his flock and withdraw to the capital, as the government insisted. Ministering as a priest became treason punishable by instant death. Fr Elias was to spend 14 months living in a cave in the mountains so that Mass could be celebrated, the sacraments administered and pastoral care still provided, usually under cover of darkness, for the poor but devout peasantry. He avoided involvement with the frequently violent “cristero” opposition movement despite its attempts to fight for the Church.

Eventually Fr Elias was apprehended by a platoon of soldiers together with two laymen, brothers, who had refused to abandon their pastor. He confessed to being a priest though he may have been given away by vestments from the previous night’s celebration that he wore under his country clothes.

The prisoners were taken to La Canada and then on towards the local big town. On the way the two laymen were shot in front of the priest. Soon afterwards the captain said to Fr Elias «now it’s your turn; let’s see if dying is as easy as saying Mass». He asked for a few moments to prepare himself before giving the soldiers his few possessions – glasses, watch and blanket – and his blessing. He was professing his faith and reciting the Creed when they shot him, there by the roadside. It was 10th March 1928 and he was 45 years of age.

Blessed Elias del Socorro Nieves was beatified by Pope John Paul II on 12th October 1997.