Born in Naolinco, Veracruz, Mexico, on December 14, 1908, Dario Acosta Zurita was one of five children, who were raised through the hard work of their mother following the early demise of her husband.
When future Saint Monsignor Rafael Guizar y Valencia visited Naolinco in search of vocations for his diocesan seminary, he refused Dario's request in order to keep supporting his mother. The latter however insisted with the prelate to accept him, which he did following the intervention of the parish priest. During the seminary years, he drove a passion for soccer and was named captain of the seminary's football team. Following his studies, he was ordained presbyter on April 25, 1931 at Mexico City and celebrated his first Solemn Mass at Vera Cruz inside the parish of the Assumption.
He began his ministry during the difficult period in which the Tejada Law came into vigor, by which priests where asked to leave their duties or else they faced serious trouble. All the diocesan priests assigned within the named parish of the Assumption decided however to keep on their pastoral positions. Don Dario, the youngest of them all, paid for his vocation with his own blood. On Saturday, July 25, 1931, during the evening, whilst teaching catechism to several young children, a group of soldiers entered the church and began shooting at the priests. Whilst Don Dario assisted a fellow presbyter who was gravely wounded, he was literally butchered by a series of gunshots, leaving him only seconds to live, but enough for him to pronounce the name of Jesus Christ.
Father Dario was proclaimed blessed at Guadalajara on November 20, 2005.
When future Saint Monsignor Rafael Guizar y Valencia visited Naolinco in search of vocations for his diocesan seminary, he refused Dario's request in order to keep supporting his mother. The latter however insisted with the prelate to accept him, which he did following the intervention of the parish priest. During the seminary years, he drove a passion for soccer and was named captain of the seminary's football team. Following his studies, he was ordained presbyter on April 25, 1931 at Mexico City and celebrated his first Solemn Mass at Vera Cruz inside the parish of the Assumption.
He began his ministry during the difficult period in which the Tejada Law came into vigor, by which priests where asked to leave their duties or else they faced serious trouble. All the diocesan priests assigned within the named parish of the Assumption decided however to keep on their pastoral positions. Don Dario, the youngest of them all, paid for his vocation with his own blood. On Saturday, July 25, 1931, during the evening, whilst teaching catechism to several young children, a group of soldiers entered the church and began shooting at the priests. Whilst Don Dario assisted a fellow presbyter who was gravely wounded, he was literally butchered by a series of gunshots, leaving him only seconds to live, but enough for him to pronounce the name of Jesus Christ.
Father Dario was proclaimed blessed at Guadalajara on November 20, 2005.
Born in Naolinco, Veracruz, Mexico, on December 14, 1908, Dario Acosta Zurita was one of five children, who were raised through the hard work of their mother following the early demise of her husband.
When future Saint Monsignor Rafael Guizar y Valencia visited Naolinco in search of vocations for his diocesan seminary, he refused Dario's request in order to keep supporting his mother. The latter however insisted with the prelate to accept him, which he did following the intervention of the parish priest. During the seminary years, he drove a passion for soccer and was named captain of the seminary's football team. Following his studies, he was ordained presbyter on April 25, 1931 at Mexico City and celebrated his first Solemn Mass at Vera Cruz inside the parish of the Assumption.
He began his ministry during the difficult period in which the Tejada Law came into vigor, by which priests where asked to leave their duties or else they faced serious trouble. All the diocesan priests assigned within the named parish of the Assumption decided however to keep on their pastoral positions. Don Dario, the youngest of them all, paid for his vocation with his own blood. On Saturday, July 25, 1931, during the evening, whilst teaching catechism to several young children, a group of soldiers entered the church and began shooting at the priests. Whilst Don Dario assisted a fellow presbyter who was gravely wounded, he was literally butchered by a series of gunshots, leaving him only seconds to live, but enough for him to pronounce the name of Jesus Christ.
Father Dario was proclaimed blessed at Guadalajara on November 20, 2005.
When future Saint Monsignor Rafael Guizar y Valencia visited Naolinco in search of vocations for his diocesan seminary, he refused Dario's request in order to keep supporting his mother. The latter however insisted with the prelate to accept him, which he did following the intervention of the parish priest. During the seminary years, he drove a passion for soccer and was named captain of the seminary's football team. Following his studies, he was ordained presbyter on April 25, 1931 at Mexico City and celebrated his first Solemn Mass at Vera Cruz inside the parish of the Assumption.
He began his ministry during the difficult period in which the Tejada Law came into vigor, by which priests where asked to leave their duties or else they faced serious trouble. All the diocesan priests assigned within the named parish of the Assumption decided however to keep on their pastoral positions. Don Dario, the youngest of them all, paid for his vocation with his own blood. On Saturday, July 25, 1931, during the evening, whilst teaching catechism to several young children, a group of soldiers entered the church and began shooting at the priests. Whilst Don Dario assisted a fellow presbyter who was gravely wounded, he was literally butchered by a series of gunshots, leaving him only seconds to live, but enough for him to pronounce the name of Jesus Christ.
Father Dario was proclaimed blessed at Guadalajara on November 20, 2005.
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