Cirauqui (Navarra) is in festive mode because of one of its favorite sons
He was born on December 6, 1909, of very Christian parents named Domingo and Felicitas. On December 8 he was baptized and on November 16, 1913, confirmed. In 1920 he entered the juniorate at Arceniega. In 1925 he received the Marist habit and after 11 years of ministry with youth, he was killed on October 8, 1936.
He died for fidelity to Gospel values and in coherence with his faith, following the way of life of Jesus of Nazareth and his Good Mother.
He is a martyr of the Christian education of youth to which he dedicated his life. He was much loved by his students and their parents.
On October 28, 2007 he was beatified by Benedict XVI and since then the Church venerates and prays to him as Blessed. The family members of this Marist Brother, the faithful of his parish together with their pastor, Don Fernando Domeño, and the Marist Brothers wanted to honor him in their church with a solemn Eucharist.
It began with a procession around the portrait of the Blessed accompanied by the magnificent parish choir. Then there was an extensive summary of the life of Br Ismael. The Mass followed with the penitential rite, readings, prayers of the faithful, offertory procession, the whole interspersed with beautiful popular hymns. At the end of the Mass, those taking part went to venerate the relic and the portrait of the Blessed, while a beautiful Navarre folk dance (“jota”) was performed. The portrait remained on display for the veneration of the faithful in a side chapel, near the main altar.
It was a very moving religious event, within the context of the Year of Faith, and the people were delighted. The festive celebration of the martyrdom of Blessed Nicolás Ran Goñi was for all of us a great event and a magnificent testimony of religious and Christian love.