Aug 12 - “Victoria Díez” © artwork by Julie Lonneman.

Aug 12 - “Victoria Díez” © artwork by Julie Lonneman. Happy Memorial Day Victoria!

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Victoria Díez y Bustos de Molina was the only child born to a devout Sevillian couple of modest means. She was a gifted and charming person who fostered a deep spiritual life. At her parents' suggestion she studied to become a teacher, while taking courses at Seville's School of Arts and Crafts.

For ten years Victoria taught in the rural public school system, where schools had many students and few resources. By all accounts she was a competent and dedicated teacher who also supported the parish priest by her involvement in many parish ministries. She was known for her charity to her students, especially to the neediest children in her class, despite her own meager salary. Victoria recognized that her teaching was an important ministry. She once said, "Praying before the Blessed Sacrament I find strength, courage, light and all the love I need to help those entrusted to me on the way of salvation".

At the start of the Spanish Civil War, there was an attack on the Church in Hornachuelos, the small town where Victoria lived and taught. At nightfall on August 11, 1936, she was arrested along with seventeen others and taken to prison, all the while remaining calm, quiet and prayerful. At daybreak she and the others were shot to death by a firing squad in an abandoned mine. Witnesses recount her words of encouragement to everyone: "Come on, our reward is waiting for us!"