Blessed Felipe Ripoll Morata

Felipe Ripoll Morata (born September 14, 1878, in Teruel; died February 7, 1939, near Girona) was a Spanish Catholic priest, Christian martyr, and blessed of the Roman Catholic Church. He came from a poor, religious family. Father Felipe Ripoll Morata served as a spiritual director and later as rector at the diocesan seminary. During the Spanish Civil War, he joined Bishop Anselmo Polanco in protest, for which he was arrested. After thirteen months of captivity, he was used as a human shield. He was killed by gunfire, and his body was buried in the Teruel Cathedral. He is commemorated by Catholics on the anniversary of his death. Recognized as a martyr for the faith, he was beatified by Pope John Paul II on October 1, 1995, as part of a group of 45 martyrs of the Spanish Civil War.