Mass celebrated in honor of first Archbishop of Mexico, canonization likely

Mexico City, Mexico, Jun 15, 2004 / 22:00 pm

Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera, Archbishop of Mexico, celebrated Mass yesterday in honor of the opening of the cause of canonization of the first Archbishop Primate of Mexico, Luis Maria Martinez.

Domincan Fr. Pedro Fernandez Rodriguez, postulator of the cause, was also present at the Mass which took place in the crypt of the Cathedral of Mexico City.

Since 1991 Fr. Fernandez is the theological expert for the cause of canonization of the Servant of God Maria Angelica Alvarez Icaza, and on October 31, 2001, he was named postulator of the cause of Archbishop Martinez.

Archbishop Martinez was born in 1881 and died in 1956.  He is considered responsible for bring peace to Mexico in the area of Church-State relations.