Priest and Martyr
Born: October 23, 1899 – La Plata, Huila, Colombia
Died: April 10, 1948 – Armero, Tolima, Colombia
Beatified: September 8, 2017, by Pope Francis
Title: Martyr of the Faith
✧ Early Life and Formation
Blessed Pedro María Ramírez Ramos was born into a devout Catholic family in the village of La Plata, nestled in the Huila Department of Colombia. From a young age, Pedro was noted for his seriousness, piety, and love of the Church. He entered seminary studies with a burning desire to serve Christ as a priest, but paused his formation for a number of years, discerning God’s will with quiet endurance and prayer.
Eventually, he resumed his path toward the altar and was ordained a priest in 1937. His life of priestly ministry was marked by a deep fidelity to the Sacraments, an uncompromising defense of Catholic truth, and a paternal love for his parishioners.
✧ Shepherd of Armero
Fr. Pedro was assigned to the parish of La Asunción in Armero, a small town in central Colombia. There, he became a father to the poor, a fearless confessor, and a preacher whose sermons stirred hearts to repentance and fidelity. He celebrated the Holy Mass with reverence and always exhorted his flock to cling to the truths of the Faith in a time of growing political tension and secularism.
His rectory was simple; he owned little. His only treasure was the Holy Eucharist, and he would spend long hours before the Blessed Sacrament, praying for his parish and for the sanctification of souls.
✧ Martyrdom
In April 1948, following the assassination of the liberal leader Jorge Eliécer Gaitán, Colombia erupted in violence during what became known as La Violencia. Anti-Catholic sentiment flared, especially from radical leftist groups who viewed the Church and its priests as enemies of the political revolution.
Fr. Pedro, known for his outspoken defense of Catholic teaching and moral truth, was falsely accused of inciting violence and was targeted by a violent mob. On April 10, 1948, a band of militants stormed his church in Armero. With his life in danger, he was urged to flee, but he refused. “I will never abandon my flock,” he said. “If I die, I die for Christ.”
Dragged from the sanctuary where he had just celebrated Holy Mass, Fr. Pedro was brutally murdered in the town square. His body was desecrated and left exposed to humiliation, yet even in death, he bore silent witness to the love of Christ crucified.
✧ Legacy and Beatification
The faithful of Colombia began to venerate Fr. Pedro as a martyr almost immediately. His heroic death, offered in union with Christ, inspired many to deeper fidelity in the face of violence and persecution. His martyrdom is considered a powerful testimony against the forces of hatred and secularism, and an enduring sign of the priest’s role as alter Christus—another Christ—for his people.
On September 8, 2017, he was beatified as a martyr for the faith, a recognition that his death was in odium fidei—in hatred of the faith. The ceremony was held in Villavicencio, Colombia, during Pope Francis’s apostolic journey to the country.
✧ Spiritual Reflection
Blessed Pedro María’s martyrdom calls the faithful to:
- Defend the Faith courageously, even when it costs everything.
- Remain steadfast in one’s vocation, especially in times of turmoil.
- Imitate Christ the Good Shepherd, who lays down His life for the sheep.
Let us pray through his intercession for holy priests, for the Church in times of persecution, and for the grace to stand firm in truth and charity.
✠ Prayer for the Intercession of Blessed Pedro María Ramírez Ramos
O God, who granted your priest Blessed Pedro María the grace to shed his blood for the sake of truth and charity, grant that through his intercession, we may remain steadfast in our faith, fearless in the face of persecution, and always conformed to Christ our Lord.
Through the same Christ, our Lord. Amen.