Spanish Civil War

Today is the 80th anniversary of the commencement of the Spanish Civil War in 1936.

One of the causes of the Nationalist uprising was the persecution of the Church after 1931. Tragically the Army rising led to even more atrocities against the clergy and faithful, especially in the north-east of the country.

 

Republican militia men desecrating a Madrid church in 1936

Image: es.wikipedia

For some background information on this terrible period in the history of the church in Spain see the following Wikipedia articles Red Terror (Spain), Martyrs of the Spanish Civil War and Catholicism in the Second Spanish Republic

New Catholic at RORATE CÆLI has a post about it at The Passion of Spain - 80th Anniversary
and there is an account of the terrible persecution the Church suffered at the hands of the Republicans at The Martyrs of the Spanish Civil War and the Repercussions ...

The message sent to the Spanish faithful by Pope Pius XII on April 14 1939 at the conclusion of the war can be read on Mundabor's blog at Pope Pius XII's Message After the Victory In Spain

  Image: Zenit

In addition to the issues surrounding the Church one can be thankful for the achievement of the Nationalist coalition ( for such it was ) in delivering and restoring the country's secular institutions - above all the monarchy, heritage and long-term freedom.