Joan Roig i Diggle

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
In this
Catalan name, the first or paternal surname
is Roig and the second or maternal family name is Diggle; both are generally joined by the conjunction "i".
Persecuted Christians, Catalonia

Joan Roig i Diggle

communion to the old and sick and was known for offering them comfort during dark times; this increased during the Spanish Civil War when it became uncertain as to the fate for priests and religious. Roig spoke out against communism which made him an opponent to the regime; he was arrested and killed soon after for his religious convictions.[3][4]

The beatification process for him launched in Barcelona in late 1998 that saw him named as a Servant of God. Pope Francis confirmed his beatification after determining that Roig had been killed in hatred for his faith; Roig was beatified in Barcelona in the Sagrada Família on 7 November 2020.[2]

Life

Joan Roig i Diggle was born in Barcelona on 12 May 1917 as one of three children born to Ramon Roig i Font[b] and Maud Diggle Puckering; he was born in his parents' home at Carrer de Mallorca 310. His sisters were Beatriu[c] and Lourdes.[3] His mother had British parents. He was baptized in the Immaculate Conception parish church.

He once expressed his desire to join the

evangelization. His mother was alarmed and tried to convince Roig that it might not be safe for him to go to such mission regions.[4]

Roig did his education first under the

spiritual director and heard his confession
once each week.

He submitted an article to the magazine Flama on 6 March 1936 in which he commented on the most recent elections before denouncing fascism and communism in politics. He knew that this would pit him against the regime and that he could be arrested. The outbreak of the civil war just four months later saw his father go to hide at a brother's house as Joan himself hid with some friends between 25 July and 5 August before deciding to go back to work and move in with his mother.[4] He feared for the state of his nation and each night clutched a Crucifix in his hands begging for strength for all Christians during the uncertain times. He received permission on 10 September 1936 from his spiritual director to keep Eucharistic hosts in case of emergencies so that could distribute it to those that needed it. He warned his director that he would go to France to receive the Eucharist himself if he was not given permission.[4]

Masked

militiamen came to his home to arrest him for his faith on 10 September 1936. His mother heard a car braking hard before hard knocks on the door came. His mother distracted them as he consumed all the hosts he had in order to prevent desecration. He kissed his mother farewell and told her in English that "God is with me" before leaving with his captors. He was forced to remain in the car as the men searched his uncle's house looking for his father to find that he was not there. He died forgiving them for their actions. Roig was killed near dawn on 11 September after being shot five times to the chest and once to the head. Roig's remains were found in 1938 and interred in a chapel in the Sant Pere del Masnou [ca] parish church.[2][3][4]

Beatification

The process for his beatification commenced in 1993 after petitions were sent to the

Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome deliver the "nihil obstat" (no objections) on 19 August 1998. The diocesan investigation into his life opened under Cardinal Ricardo María Carles Gordó on 4 October 1999; documentation and witness interrogatories were collected before the cardinal closed the investigation on 16 May 2001. The archdiocese later submitted all their findings to the C.C.S. in Rome before the department issued a decree of validation on 6 June 2003 that said that the rules and guidelines had been followed and that all the documentation had been received.[4]

The postulation (officials in charge of the cause) compiled the official "

Juan José Omella Omella beatified Roig at the Sagrada Família basilica on 7 November 2020 on the behalf of the pope.[2][4]

The current postulator for this cause is the Piarist priest Andrés Valencia Henao.[3]

Notes

  1. first names John or Juan, the English and Spanish equivalents of the Catalan Joan.[1]
  2. castilianized
    translation of his name Ramón Roig Fuente.
  3. castilianized
    translation of her fame name Beatriz.

References

  1. ^ ""God is with me": así murió el último catalán mártir bajo Companys, que mañana beatifican". Dolça Catalunya. 6 November 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Blessed Joan Roig i Diggle". Saints SQPN. 17 March 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "General Postulator. The promulgation of the Decree on the Martyrdom of Joan Roig i Diggle passed". Scolopi Casa Generalizia. 8 October 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Beato Giovanni Roig Diggle". Santi e Beati. Retrieved 7 November 2020.

External links

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