Another typical form of persecution during the Spanish Civil War was mass executions. In Barbastro, the seminary was completely wiped out with the murder of 42 students and six officials. A letter from the remaining students, dated August 13, 1936, when 29 seminarians had already been killed, captures their expectation of execution:
“We spend the day encouraging each other towards martyrdom, praying for our enemies and for our dear institute. As the moment approaches when another victim is designated, we all feel a sacred calm within ourselves and yearn to hear our name, so that we may step out and join the ranks of the chosen; we await that moment with generous impatience. When this moment came for some, we saw them kiss the ropes that bound them; others addressed words of forgiveness to the armed crowd. When they boarded the truck to go to the cemetery, we heard them shout: ‘Long live Christ the King!’ And the crowd responded fiercely: ‘Let them die! Let them die!’ But nothing frightened them…”
José Diaz, the general secretary of the Spanish section of the 3rd International, claimed in March 1937: “In the provinces where we hold power, the church no longer exists. Spain has far surpassed the work of the Soviets, as the church is currently eradicated here.”
(Andrea Riccardi, Century of Martyrs)
