Biography
Darío Acosta Zurita
About Darío Acosta Zurita
Darío Acosta Zurita was born in Naolinco, Veracruz, in December 1908. The Mexican bishops’ account gives December 13 while noting that his birth certificate recorded December 20; the exact day remains disputed. After his father lost his livelihood and died, Darío helped his mother support the family.
His wish to enter the seminary initially met an obstacle: Bishop Rafael Guízar y Valencia believed that his family still needed his help at home. His mother sought assistance from the priest Miguel Mesa, and Darío was eventually admitted as an external student. A scholarship later enabled him to live at the seminary.
Religious persecution disrupted his formation, and the bishop moved the seminary to Mexico City.
Alongside his studies, Darío enjoyed football and captained the seminary team.
He was ordained on April 25, 1931, and appointed an assistant at the Assumption parish in Veracruz the following month. His work included teaching children the catechism and hearing confessions.
The pastor, Justino de la Mora, warned his assistants about the danger they faced and allowed them to hide or return home. Darío and the other assistants chose to continue their parish work.
The state government was imposing severe restrictions on the number of priests allowed to minister. Accounts of the attack preserve testimony from Alberto Landa, another priest who was present and survived.
On July 25, 1931, armed men entered the church while the priests were ministering and children and catechists were gathered there. Darío was fatally wounded. His priestly ministry had lasted three months.
The Vatican biography places him just outside the baptistery, where he had baptized a child.
Historian Marta Eugenia García Ugarte places the killing within the continuing conflict between Governor Adalberto Tejeda and the clergy of Veracruz. She records that Alberto Landa was seriously wounded in the same attack. After learning what had happened, Bishop Guízar ordered priests to leave the state to prevent further bloodshed.
The Catholic Church recognized his death as martyrdom in 2004 and beatified him in Guadalajara on November 20, 2005.
Guadalajara includes him in the November 20 memorial of Blessed Anacleto González Flores and companions.
Wondering how to weigh the stories and sources? Learn how to read a saint biography.