Former Bishop of Almería, Monsignor Diego Ventaja Milán was born in Ohanes, Almería, Spain, on June 22, 1880, and was ordained to the Priesthood on December 21, 1902, at the Chapel of the Spanish College in Rome, Italy, where he underwent studies in Philosophy, Theology, and Canon Law, at the Pontifical Gregorian University.
Choir Chaplain and President of the Chapter of Abadía del Sacromonte, Granada, College Professor of Moral Theology and Confessor to numerous Religious Congregations, Ventaja was named Bishop of the Diocese of Almería at 54 years of age by Pope Pius XI on May 1, 1935, receiving his Episcopal Consecration at the Cathedral of Granada on the following June 29, from Cardinal Agustín Parrado y García, assisted by Archbishop Antonio García y García and Bishop Manuel Medina y Olmos.
Unrest during the early days of the Spanish Civil War, led to the arrest of the Bishop, who was still in the first year of his Episcopate. In the early hours of July 30, 1936, together with the Bishop of Gaudix, Monsignor Manuel Medina y Olmos, and other members of the Clergy, he was taken to an area called Barranco del Chisme, in the vicinities of Vícar, Almería, and executed.
The Bishop’s remains were cremated by his executioners. Some ashes however survived are found venerated to this day at the Capilla de los Mártires inside the Cathedral of Almería.
Pope John Paul II declared him a Blessed together with Bishop Medina y Olmos on October 10, 1993.
From Findagrave.com
