Marco Criado
A Spanish Trinitarian and missionary in the Alpujarras, Blessed Marco Criado died a martyr in 1569, stoned and tortured by Morisco rebels.
Contemporaries
Figures and markers around the normalized period for this entry.
Guided reading
5 reading sections
Biography
Birth, childhood, and entry into the Trinitarians of Marco Criado.
Blessed Marco Criado (Marcos Criado Guelamo) was born on April 25, 1522, in Andújar, Spain. The fifth child of a wealthy Christian family, he lost his mother at the age of nine. After a pilgrimage to the sanctuary of Our Lady of the Head, he felt the religious call and entered as a novice at the Trinitarian convent of Andújar in 1535 or 1536. There, he made his vows and studied philosophy and theology.
Life and work
Preaching ministry and evangelizing mission in the Alpujarras.
Ordained a priest around 1547, Father Marco Criado distinguished himself by his humility and his talents as a preacher in Andújar, Jaén, and Úbeda. In 1560, at the request of Pope Pius IV and the Bishop of Guadix, he was sent as a missionary to the difficult region of the Alpujarras to preach to the Moriscos. Despite violent attacks, he tirelessly continued his apostolate and took over from the parish priest of La Peza after the latter's assassination at the end of 1568.
Path to Holiness
The martyrdom of Father Marco Criado in September 1569.
In September 1569, Father Marco was captured by Morisco rebels near La Peza. Refusing to renounce his faith, he was tied to a holm oak for three days without food or water, during which time he continued to sing psalms. He was finally stoned on September 24 or 25, 1569. According to tradition, his heart was torn out and appeared marked with the monogram of Jesus (IHS) beneath a luminous glow.
Beatification and canonization
Official recognition of the cult and beatification by Leo XIII.
Venerated locally under the name of "Santo Marcos," his historical cult was approved in 1757 by Pope Benedict XIV. Following the work of the postulator Antonino de la Asunción, Pope Leo XIII officially confirmed his cult and proclaimed him blessed on July 24, 1899.
Spirituality and legacy
Devotion, annual pilgrimage, and liturgical memory of the Apostle of the Alpujarras.
Nicknamed the "Apostle of the Alpujarras," he is the patron saint of La Peza, where a romería is organized every September 24th. His liturgical memory is celebrated on September 24th by the Trinitarian Order and several Spanish dioceses, and on September 25th in the Roman Martyrology. A monument is dedicated to him in his hometown of Andújar.
Iconography
Signs and attributes
Frequently asked questions about Marco Criado
Who was Marco Criado?
A Spanish Trinitarian and missionary in the Alpujarras, Blessed Marco Criado died a martyr in 1569, stoned and tortured by Morisco rebels.
What is Marco Criado the patron saint of?
Patronage of Marco Criado: La Peza and La Peza.
How is Marco Criado depicted in Christian art?
In iconography, Marco Criado is recognizable by: Holm oak and Heart marked with the IHS monogram.
How did Marco Criado die?
Marco Criado suffered martyrdom for the Christian faith (16th century).
Which saints were contemporaries of Marco Criado?
Contemporaries include: Blessed John of Jesus-Mary, Ana de Jesús, Venerable Anne of Jesus and Saint Francis de Sales (Bishop and Prince of Geneva).
What are the other names of Marco Criado?
Other forms of the name: Marcos Criado Guelamo and Santo Marcos.
Who are the relatives of Marco Criado?
Relatives of Marco Criado: Juan Criado Notario (father) and María Guelamo Pasillas (mother).
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Era / death: 1569
- Beatification in 1899 by Leo XIII