Blessed Francisca Pons Sardá

Gabriela of St. John of the Cross (born July 18, 1880, in L’Espluga de Francolí, died July 31, 1936, in Barcelona) was a Spanish nun, Christian martyr, and blessed of the Catholic Church. Upon feeling a calling to religious life, she joined the Carmelite Missionaries. Following the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936, she and her fellow sisters were imprisoned on the night of July 24–25. On July 31, 1936, she was executed by firing squad alongside Daniela of St. Barnabas, Maria Refugia of the Holy Angel, and Sperantia of the Cross. She was beatified by Benedict XVI as part of a group of 498 martyrs on October 28, 2007. The Mass was presided over by the Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Portuguese Cardinal José Saraiva Martins. The liturgical memorial for the martyrs is observed on November 6.