Bonifacio Rodríguez González was born on 14 May 1885 at Molina de Ubierna, in the Castilian province of Burgos — that hard, believing countryside which in those years gave the Church a remarkable harvest of religious teachers and martyrs. Drawn to the work begun by Saint John Baptist de La Salle, he entered the Brothers of the Christian Schools and received the religious name by which the Church now honours him: Brother José Cecilio.
His life, like that of his companions, was made not of great public deeds but of the three vows and the classroom. As Pope John Paul II said of these Brothers at their beatification, their consecrated life "had been forged through their humble and silent work in teaching." Day after day Brother José Cecilio gave Christian instruction to children and young men, content to be unnoticed, forming souls rather than making a name. In time he was assigned to the La Salle college of Almería in southern Spain, where he was serving when the storm broke.
The Brothers knew what such work could cost. When news reached the community of the martyrdom of the Brothers of Turón in Asturias in 1934, Brother Aurelio María — who would die beside him — exclaimed: "What happiness would be ours if we could pour out our blood for so lofty an ideal! Let us redouble our fervour as religious educators, and so make ourselves worthy of such an honour." That was the spirit in which the Almería community lived: aware that despite their self-sacrificing labour for the young they were exposed to every kind of insult and calumny, and ready to answer it with greater fidelity.
In the summer of 1936 the persecution against the faith swept over Almería. On 5 August the bishop of Almería, Diego Ventaja Milán, was arrested by the militia together with Manuel Medina Olmos, bishop of Guadix, and other churchmen. The Brothers of the La Salle college were seized as well. Led away to prison in hatred of the Christian name, they endured insults and ill-treatment patiently, and were killed one by one, by night, over the following weeks. The two bishops were murdered on 30 August, and with them Brothers Edmigio and Valerio Bernardo; Brother Teodomiro Joaquín died on 4 September, Brother Evencio Ricardo on 8 September. On 13 September 1936 Brother José Cecilio Rodríguez González was put to death at Almería together with Brother Aurelio María Villalón Acebrón. He was fifty-one years old.
The martyrs of Almería died as their bishop died, forgiving. Eyewitnesses recorded the words of Monsignor Ventaja to those about to kill him: "May God forgive you as I forgive you with all my heart, and may this be the last blood you shed." That prayer covered the Brothers who followed him to the same fate.
The cause of beatification was opened at Almería on 7 February 1956. On Sunday, 10 October 1993, in Saint Peter's Square, Pope John Paul II beatified the nine martyrs of Almería — the two bishops and the seven Brothers of the Christian Schools: Aurelio María, José Cecilio, Edmigio, Amalio, Valerio Bernardo, Teodomiro Joaquín and Evencio Ricardo. Applying to them the words of Saint Paul, "I can do all things in him who strengthens me," and the beatitude "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven," the Pope held them up as witnesses that the strength of love is stronger than death.
Blessed José Cecilio teaches that sanctity is prepared in obscurity: years of patient teaching, poverty, chastity and obedience made a quiet schoolmaster capable, when the hour came, of dying without hatred.
May his intercession win us the courage to be faithful in small, hidden duties today, so that we may be found faithful in the great ones tomorrow.
