Most of us can attend Mass without wondering whether the priest will be arrested or whether publicly professing our faith will cost us our lives. The Mexican martyrs knew otherwise. In this article, originally published in Crisis Magazine, Sheryl Collmer recalls the persecution that drove Catholics underground in 1920s Mexico—and the courage of those who refused to abandon Christ. Their cry, “¡Viva Cristo Rey!” expressed a loyalty that threats, imprisonment, and even death could not extinguish.

Through the stories of Blessed Miguel Pro and St. José Sánchez del Río, Collmer asks readers to consider what steadfast faith might require in their own circumstances. She also raises demanding questions about resistance to injustice, the protection of others, and the moral limits that must govern any response. These martyrs deserve more than a passing admiration for courage we hope never to need. Their witness invites us to know our faith, deepen our resolve, and consider how faithfully we live the words: Long live Christ the King.