Thursday, July 30, 2026

It is the 30th of July 2026. Welcome to the Christian History Almanac, brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org; I’m Dan van Voorhis.

 

I had to make a choice.

 

It turns out today is an anniversary for two radical priests in the 19th century- both North American, one from Canada and the other from Mexico. The Canadian, born on this day, was Charles Chiniquy…. He was defrocked and claimed that the Jesuits were behind the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. We did tell his story YEARS ago, and I’m tempted to expand his story into a weekend edition. The other radical priest is going to get the spotlight today… and a shoutout to Jim Tuck, who pointed out that Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla (a name you might know) had the distinction of being a father who was a father who was a father. So- who was this Padre x 3 and why might his name ring a bell (pun intended).

 

Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla was born in Guanajuato (north of Mexico City) in 1753- a Creole (that is, of Spanish descent but born in New Spain). He studied under the Jesuits at the colleges of Francis Xavier and San Nicolas in Valladolid, where he earned a degree in theology and was ordained in 1778 as a Catholic Priest. While he studied under Jesuits, he himself was not a Jesuit, as the order was expelled from New Spain during his education. They were seen by the Spanish government as fomenting rebellion… their inclinations weren’t off… Hidalgo learned of various Enlightenment thinkers whose works helped kick off both the American and later French revolutions. He would himself come to teach theology at San Nicolas.

 

Hidalgo was… well, “Radical Priest” seems fair. He was skeptical of authority and accepted dogmas. He was known as “the fox”- sources differ on the origins of this nickname- perhaps it was his wit in general, perhaps it was the way he dodged authorities who questioned his theology. In 1803, he was sent to take over the parish of his deceased brother in Dolores- it was seen by some as a disciplinary move- moving him to a rural parish where his heterodoxy would have less oxygen. Instead, he transformed Dolores into a radical hotbed- teaching the lower classes to cultivate grapes and produce silk against the state's decrees. He was also… less than celibate. He had a few children with different women… the Padre was also a literal Padre.

 

In 1808, New Spain was invaded by the French. King Ferdinand VII abdicated at the behest of Napoleon, who made his brother, Joseph, the new king of Spain (and New Spain).

 

Hidalgo belonged to a pro-Independence group and soon found himself as the spokesman. It was on the 16th of September in 1810 (today celebrated as Mexican Independence Day) that Father Hidalgo, the radical priest, rang the bells in Dolores and made a speech against the Spanish- under the banner of the Virgin of Guadalupe- calling for independence. This is the famed “Grito de Dolores” or the “Cry of Dolores”- the exact words are lost to history, but popular memory has the cry including a “Viva the Virgin of Guadalupe” and “Viva the Church”. From this, Hidalgo would be remembered as the Father of Mexico… the Father, who was a Father, was known three times a Father.

 

The Virgin of Guadalupe remains today a symbol of Mexican Catholicism- the image of a mestiza (mixed race) woman wearing turquoise surrounded by a sunburst is synonymous with the old faith of the new country.

 

The Mexican Inquisition, an offshoot of the Spanish Inquisition (which, no one expected…) would help to hunt down the radical priest as he rallied thousands to his cause. They would capture many towns west of Mexico City but were defeated outside Guadalajara. Hidalgo attempted to flee to the United States but was captured, interrogated, defrocked, and executed at Chihuahua on this, the 30th of July in 1811. The Father, 3 times over, Priest, of natural children, and of Mexican independence…. Miguel Hidalgo, born in 1753, was 58 years old.

 

 

The Last word for today comes from the daily lectionary and the letter to the Philippians- the 4th chapter- with some helpful context for a popular verse:

10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

 

This has been the Christian History Almanac for the 30th of July 2026 brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org.

The show is produced by a man who hears “Father 3 times over” and thinks “that’s nothing!” he is Christopher Gillespie.

The show is written and read by a man who always confuses the Cry of Dolores and the Cielito Lindo… (it’s Canta y no llores- not “Dolores). I’m Dan van Voorhis

You can catch us here every day- and remember that the rumors of grace, forgiveness, and the redemption of all things are true…. Everything is going to be ok.