Most certainly, Veracruz is unique. For that reason, I had come here. I was visiting in Mexico and, for reasons of health, it became necessary to rest. I had chosen Veracruz for several reasons, Mainly for its fresh atmosphere and tropical climate. But on the 30th of January, 1998, the suffocating heat had drawn crowds of people to the shade of the park trees in Plaza Constitution near the Cathedral. All eyes were fixed in the same direction. I wondered why. Why? My park bench neighbor passed me his newspaper and I understood. Today, the Bishop of Veracruz, Monsignor Jose Guadalupe Padilla and Lozano, will preside over an unusual and very special liturgy.

     Accompanied by 40 priests from the diocese of Veracruz, the Bishop directed the exhumation of the remains of Father Darío Acosta Zurita, who on the 26th of July, 1931, was gunned down in the same parish of the Assumption, now the Cathedral of Veracruz.

     All the peole of Veracruz were captivated by this public ceremony. All the newspapers headlined the event on their front page. The Notiver, for example which I hold in my hands, headlines with bold print " WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A SAINT! " " The remains of Veracruz martyr Darío Acosta are exhumed. " That's how I became interested in the cause of Father Dario. In Montreal I had a radio show, Witnesses of our time, on the religious radio station Ville-Marie Radio. This program dealt with the Venerable, the Blessed and Saintly from Quebec. So everything that touched upon sanctity interested fascinated me , just as everything that touched upon humanity interested the Roman poet Terence, " Homo sum," said the poet "humani nihil a me alienum puto. " (from The Man Who Punishes Himself, 1.1.25).

     For my part, I could have said: It's our obligation to be holy as God desires. " Be holy, as I am holy." (Lev. 11, 44) Or as Our Lord Himself recommends: " Be perfect as my heavenly Father is Perfect! " (Mt. 5,48). For that reason, everything that borders on sanctity fascinates me. The saints are our models. Each one reflects the immense glory of God as in a mirror and attracts us to Him.

     Naturally, after the liturgy, I met with Father Abel Lopez Chávez, the postulator of the cause. I traveled to Xalapa to speak with Father Rafael González, and later was afforded the immense pleasure of meeting with Father Dario's 2 nephews and 2 nieces- Elisa, Maria de Lourdes, Darío and Heriberto. Elisa, Maria de Lourdes and Darío are the children of the of Father Darío's only sister, Elisa. Heriberto is Dario's brother Herebierto's son. Suddenly, I realized that something was in the air. The inspiration came, so I set to writing. Until that time, I had only written about the lives of 4 distinguished and respected saintly figures from Quebec- only women : Juana Le Ber, the first North American woman hermit, Rosalie Cadron-Jetté, the mother of eleven children who, once widowed, devoted herself to helping single mothers who had been shunned and rejected by the society of that era and. She ultimately founded a community for them. Sister Juan-Baptista, was an incredible mystic who wrote books of the highest levels of spirituality and followed to the letter the the "little" interior life of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus. Most recently I wrote about the Venerable Ísabel Bergeron, a smiling and very amiable Sister who also founded a religious community - The Sisters of St. Joseph who are devoted to education of the poorest of the poor.

     It was time now to write about the life of someone of my own sex. On my radio show, some had dared to me why I had always chosen to write only about the lives of holy women? There were circumstantial reasons I suppose- I simply hadn't yet had the opportunity. But now was the hour.The vibrant life of this young Mexican martyr spurred me on. At first, I wrote out of curiosity, later with pleasure and finally with passion.

     Darío, this young 23 year old priest, now has joined the glorious phalanx of martyrs along with Polycarp of Smyrna, Ignatius of Antioch Cyprian of Carthage, Phillip of Jesus, the first Mexican martyr, assassinated in Japan, John de Breboeuf and Isaac Jogues from Canada. How it is possible that Darío could have reached that glory so quickly? It is the work of the biographer to clarify this point, since the goal of a hagiographer- into which I had been converted, consists precisely in penetratation into the most intimate part of the hero to extract and emphasize this inner light that radiates the saints.

     It's my firm hope that that the light that shines from Dario's soul will illuminate all those who cast their eyes upon these lines- especially our youth! They will look upon a passionate young role model, his life given in the flower of his youth and reflect. Where did he get the energy that gave him such courage? What prompted his bloodshed? While writing, I feel a little like Father Dario's mother. On the 29th of February 1996, before the ecclesiastical tribunal for the Cause of the Servant of God, a witness, Mrs. Clementina Pelayo Meza, said that after the death of her son, his mother "constantly spoke to us about him, and wove around his photos, making small brooches for us to wear. Whenever a hardship was had, she said "Ask Father Dario and he will help you",-and we always received the help we needed."

     I think the same way and I cannot be shut up. I love speaking about him. For that reason, I decided to write his life. He inspires me, encourages and urges me on.

     May Dario, this witness to the death and resurrection of the Lord of Glory become renowned, venerated and promptly reach the altars. This is my ardent desire! Rev. Dr Yvon Langlois

     Es mi deseo más ardiente! Pbro. Dr. Yvon Langlois

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