Daniel del Castillo González
At first glance, a bishop and a Romani might seem to have nothing in common. These testimonies prove otherwise.
NATS JUBILEE SINTI
Ceferino, known as Pelé, a blessed man, dances with honor. God holds him in His glory and is his greatest admirer.
Ceferino Giménez was a horse trader, who had his marriage blessed by the Church. He was also the only Romani man to join the Secular Franciscan Order and the Spanish Nocturnal Adoration.
Fr. Florentino Asensio was named bishop of Barbastro, Spain, a few months prior to the Spanish Civil War.
The story of how the two met is recounted by Martín Ibarra Benlloch in his book Gypsy and Bishop United in Martyrdom.
MARTÍN IBARRA BENLLOCH
Author of 'Gypsy and Bishop United in Martyrdom'
You have to realize just how different they were. One was a bishop, a cultured, highly educated man. The other was Ceferino, a Romani basket maker and horse trader who couldn't read or write. Both became witnesses to Christ.
The two were imprisoned together. The bishop was tortured and executed first by a firing squad on August 9th, 1936.
And when Ceferino refused to surrender the rosary he was wearing and defended a priest, he was executed at the city's cemetery.
MARTÍN IBARRA BENLLOCH
Author of 'Gypsy and Bishop United in Martyrdom'
It was a true Catholic holocaust. The goal was to wipe out the Catholic faith and all those most closely identified with it: priests, religious and lay people. Churches were attacked, their interiors were burned, and many were completely destroyed.
What united them was the way they faced martyrdom. During the time they were imprisoned, they devoted themselves to prayer and penance. They also embraced martyrdom.
Their cause for canonization was launched by three Italians involved in the European pastoral work with Romani communities.
MARTÍN IBARRA BENLLOCH
Author of 'Gypsy and Bishop United in Martyrdom'
The parish has a painting and a statue of Ceferino, along with one of Blessed Emilia Fernández, also Romani. He would say the parish frequently witnessed two miracles: many Romani came asking for work, and there they were given jobs.
In 1997, Ceferino, also know as 'Pelé,' became the first beatified Romani. Pope John Paul II celebrated the ceremony where 4,000 Romani attended.
