Courageous Witnesses · Week 3 · Grades 9–12
Guided Notes: St. José Sánchez del Río
- Name
- Date
- Class
Follow along as your teacher presents. Fill in each section when its slide is on the screen.
Mexico, 1926
In 1926, the blank 1 government passed harsh laws against the Catholic Church. Priests could not wear their robes in public. Many were imprisoned or killed. Churches were closed, and Catholics could not go to Mass.
Many Catholics rose up to fight for their freedom. They were called Cristeros, from their battle cry: “¡Viva Cristo Rey!”, “Long live Christ the King!” The Cristero War lasted from 1926 to blank 2.
José Sánchez del Río was born in Sahuayo, Michoacán, on March 28, blank 3, the son of ranchers. He prayed the Rosary every day. His two older brothers joined the Cristeros.
From Sahuayo to sainthood
Write what happened in each year.
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1913 | Write your answer |
| 1926 | Write your answer |
| 1927 | Write your answer |
| 1928 | Write your answer |
| 1929 | Write your answer |
| 2004 | Write your answer |
| 2005 | Write your answer |
| 2016 | Write your answer |
The flag bearer’s choice
At 13, José begged to join. His mother refused. He answered, “Mama, it has never been easier to earn heaven than now.” General Prudencio Mendoza let him serve as flag bearer. The soldiers called him “Tarcisius,” after a boy saint who died protecting the blank 4.
On February blank 5, 1928, he gave the general his own horse and was captured. He was jailed in his own parish church. From there he wrote to his mother, “I am resigned to the will of God. I die happy because I die in the ranks at the side of our Lord.”
He was told he would go free if he said, “Death to Christ the King.” He kept shouting, “¡Viva Cristo Rey! ¡Viva Santa María de Guadalupe!” Soldiers killed him on February blank 6, 1928.
Apply it
Which situation is closest to the choice José faced in prison? Circle one.
- A Losing an argument about faith in a comment thread
- B Being offered an easy way out if you deny what you believe
- C Feeling bored at Mass and wishing you were elsewhere
- D Being unsure which of two good things God is asking of you
Why is that the right answer?
Apply it
Why did the Church not require a miracle before beatifying José? Circle one.
- A Because he was younger than 18 when he died
- B Because his family had already reported one
- C Because he was beatified in his own country
- D Because he was declared a martyr for the faith
Why is that the right answer?
Take a side
José could have said the words without meaning them and lived. Do words you do not mean still count?
My side: ☐ Yes: your words are part of who you are ☐ No: only what is in your heart counts
- What is the difference between private belief and public witness?
- Who else was watching and listening to what José would say?
- Does it change anything when the speaker is 14 and under threat?
- Online, do a like, a repost or a joke “not really mean anything”?
- What happens to trust if words can be emptied whenever it is convenient?
My strongest reason, with evidence from the slides:
The best argument for the other side, and my response:
Conscience under pressure
José’s test came from soldiers. Ours often comes from feeds, group chats and the wish to be liked, and now from AI tools that will write words for us. How do you make sure the words that go out under your name are really yours and really true?
Think: my idea before we talk
Sentence starters: “The pressure I notice most is ...”“A line I will not cross online is ...”“One habit that would protect my integrity is ...”
Pair: something my partner said
Let us pray
Lord Jesus Christ, King of our hearts, you alone are worthy of our worship.
Form our consciences, and make our words match our faith.
Give courage to all who are persecuted for your name.
St. José Sánchez del Río, pray for us.
Amen.
My own prayer or intention:
¡Viva Cristo Rey!
At 14, José showed that conscience is not a matter of age. A few words mattered to him because the truth mattered.
One thing I learned today:
One question I still have:
How could the example of St. José Sánchez del Río shape the way I live, online and offline?
Challenge: For one week, post, send and submit only words you would sign your name to in front of Christ the King. Note each time that changes what you were about to do.