These are the seven martyred Brothers of the Hospitaller Order of St John of God who were born in Colombia and executed in Spain on 9 August 1936 during the Spanish Civil War. They were all members of Ciempozuelos Community (Madrid).

They were sons of Catholic farming families from different regions of Colombia. They had entered the Hospitaller Order with the intention of devoting themselves to serving the sick and were sent to Spain to further their studies and their religious formation. At the time of the outbreak of war in Spain, these young men belonged to the Ciempozuelos community in Madrid.

All these Brothers were beatified by Pope John Paul II on 25th October 1992, becoming the first Colombian Blesseds in the Catholic Church.

Blessed Rubén de Jesús López Aguilar

He was born in the town of Concepción (Antioquia) on 12 April 1908. He entered the Hospitaller Order and was professed on 27 March 1932. He worked at the hospital at Pasto, caring for war-wounded soldiers, and in 1934 he was transferred to the community at Ciempozuelos (Madrid - Spain).  He distinguished himself for his prayerful spirit and his love and care for the sick. He remained steadfast in times of trial and difficulties. During his stay in Spain, he asked our Lord to grant him the Grace of martyrdom.  He was executed in Barcelona on 9 August 1936. Beatified on 25 October 1992 by John-Paul II.  

Blessed Arturo Ayala Nino

He was born in the town of Paipa (Boyacá), on 7 April 1909. He received a Christian education and entered the Order at the age of 19 in 1928. In 1930 he was sent to Spain to serve in several communities. He always distinguished himself for his merciful care of the sick.  In 1934 he began his studies for the priesthood, which he pursued until the political circumstances prevented it. On 9 August 1936 he was executed in Barcelona. He belonged to the communities of Ciempozuelos (Madrid - Spain) and Malaga (Spain).

Blessed Juan Bautista Velázquez Peláez

He was born in Jardìn (Antioquia, Colombia) on 9 July 1909; he was baptised as José. His father gave him a solid Christian formation. Before entering the Order he qualified as a teacher, and taught until he entered the Order on 29 February 1932. He made his religious profession in 1933. In April 1934 he was transferred to Spain, where he ministered to the sick with a spirit of service and generosity in different communities: Cordoba, Granada and Ciempozuelos. While travelling from Madrid to Barcelona to return to his homeland he was executed with a group of his fellow Brothers on 9 August 1936. He was 27 years old.

Blessed Eugenio Ramírez Salazar

He was born in La Ceja (Antioquia, Colombia) on 2 September 1913. He was baptised as Alfonso Antonio, which he changed to Eugenio in his Religious life. He took his religious vows on 24 September 1933. In 1935 he was transferred to Spain to pursue his studies and his vocational training. He was happy to go to Spain, because he said, "In Spain to attain holiness must be easy because it is a land with many great saints".  With his travelling companions, he was executed on 9 August 1936 in Barcelona. He was a member of the Ciempozuelos community.

Blessed Esteban Maya Gutiérrez

He was born in Pacora (Caldas) on 19 March 1907. He was baptised as Gabriel. He entered the Order at the age of 25 and made his religious vows on 24 September 1933, taking the name of Brother Esteban. One of his companions said he was very humble, and cared for the sick very lovingly and with great competence; he stood out on account of his abilities and his scientific knowledge. Brother Esteban lived in Spain for about a year. He belonged to the Ciempozuelos community. He was executed on 9 August 1936 together with his companions in Barcelona.

Blessed Melquiades Ramírez Zuloaga

He was born in Sonsón (Antioquia) on 13 February 1909. He was baptised Ramón. He entered the Order at the age of 24. He made his profession on 25 December 1934. He was transferred to Spain in 1935 to complete his hospitaller and religious formation in the Ciempozuelos community. (Madrid). In his short life he distinguished himself for his sensitivity and his loving commitment to the sick . He was martyred with his companions in Barcelona on 9 August 1936.

Blessed Gaspar Páez Perdomo

He was born atUnión, a town in Huila (Colombia), on 15 June 1913. He was urgently baptised being in danger of death as Luis Modesto. He entered religious life at the age of 20. Upon religious profession he took the name Gaspar. Following his religious profession he was transferred to Spain to complete his spiritual formation and vocational training. In view of the dire political situation there, that put the lives of the Brothers in jeopardy, his superiors decided to return him to Colombia with the other six Colombian Brothers. On reaching Barcelona, however, they were all imprisoned and on 9 August 1936 they were executed.