Antonio Lasa was a Catholic priest born in Loizu in 1913. A member of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, he pursued theological studies before the Spanish Civil War disrupted his training. During the conflict, he was among a group of fourteen religious students who were targeted by militias. He died in July 1936 at the Fernán Caballero train station when the group's train was attacked. He was later recognized as a blessed martyr by the Catholic Church.
Life and death
Raised in a religious household, Antonio joined the Claretian missionaries after being inspired by visiting preachers. He studied philosophy and theology, but the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War forced his community to relocate to Ciudad Real. While attempting to travel to Madrid, he and his companions were intercepted by militias at a railway station, where he was killed at the age of 23.
Veneration
He was beatified on October 13, 2013, in Tarragona, as part of a group of 522 martyrs from the 20th century. His remains were moved from their initial burial site to the Parish of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Madrid, and eventually to the San Antonio Maria Claret parish in Seville, where he is honored.