"Viva Cristo Rey!" translates to "Long live Christ the King"; but here it means far more.
Blessed Miguel Pro was a Jesuit priest who was martyred for actively conferring the sacraments and administering the faith to the people of Mexico (during a time when Catholicism was outlawed by the Mexican government). Before he was caught, he would go to far lengths to evade capture and continue to serve Christ and his people, even dressing up as a cab driver in order to travel seamlessly through the streets of Mexico. Eventually, he was arrested and sentenced to execution by firing squad. He met his death as a soldier of Christ, eyes up and extended arms, he neither admitted defeat nor scorned death; but shouted "Viva Cristo Rey". Long live Christ the King! This is a copy of the actual photo before he died. This framed print is a great reminder of our courage in Christ - that in order to stand for something, we must first stand up!
In the 1920s, when the United States had a quasi-Stalinist regime on its southern border, “Viva Cristo Rey!” was the defiant battle cry of the Cristeros who fought the radically secular Mexican government’s persecution of the Church. “Viva Cristo Rey!” were likely the last words spoken by Blessed Miguel Pro, SJ, whose martyrdom in 1927 may have been the first in history in which the martyr was photographed at the moment of death. Today, in the United States, “Cristo Rey” has a different, although not wholly unrelated, meaning—for it’s the name of an important experiment in Catholic education for poor children.
Franklin Mountains State Park
Wyler Aerial Tramway
Second Generation Gondola
This gondola, which ran from 1970 to 1986, was manufactured locally by Utility Trailer Company. It carried six passengers and an attendant known as a “Rangerette” for over 16years, allowing generations of El Pasoans to access Ranger Peak. Able to carry 1400 pounds, this little workhorse and its mate also transported equipment and supplies to service telecommunication equipment.
