The Lay Martyrs of Quiche (d. 1980-1991) are seven K’iche’ Mayan men from Guatemala who will soon be beatified. All 7 were martyred during the Civil War, alongside 3 Spanish priests. All but the youngest were married men. #IndigenousSaints

Ven. Juan Barrera Méndez (age 12) had founded a prayer group that met at night to pray for peace. The group was accused of being revolutionaries and its members arrested. As he was being tortured, Juan said, "I will give my soul in the name of the Lord."

Ven. Rosalio Benito Ixchop was very intelligent (though illiterate) and so well-versed in doctrine that he was made a catechist. He was ambushed by the army along with his son; both were martyred.

Ven. Reyes Us Hernández was a catechist and local leader, promoting health by visiting the sick and advocating construction of a road so the sick could more easily reach a hospital. He warned his family that he would likely be killed for his humanitarian work, as he was.⠀

Ven. Nicolás Castro was a catechist & EMHC. When Catholics were forbidden to meet in churches, he encouraged them to meet at night in their houses or in the mountains. He brought people the Blessed Sacrament, hidden in his backpack. He was shot in front of his wife and children.

Ven. Domingo Del Barrio Batz was a sacristan, a translator, a catechist, and a father of 3. Though warned of the danger, he refused to abandon Ven. José María Gran Cirera, a Spanish priest, and was ambushed and shot alongside him.⠀

Ven. Miguel Tiú Imul was the father of a large family and a proponent of nonviolence. He insisted one couldn't walk around with a Bible in one hand and a rifle in the other. He was assassinated outside his home.

Ven. Tomás Ramírez Caba was a catechist and sacristan, charged with the care of the church in the absence of the priests. The army demanded to use it for their own purposes, but Tomás refused. He was shot in the courtyard of the church, after which the army commandeered it.