Midwestern Roots

Born into a farming community in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, James Alfred Miller, one of five children in his family, first met the Brothers of the Christian Schools (De La Salle Christian Brothers) during high school. He entered formation with the Brothers during his high school years. 

After completing his novitiate and professing first vows, Brother James went on to teach Spanish, English and religion at Cretin High School in Saint Paul, Minnesota. While at Cretin High, Brother James drew on his farm upbringing by helping to maintain and repair the school. Students began lovingly referring to him as “Brother Fix-It.” Seeing Brother James in this light humanized and endeared him to his students.

Called to Central America

After taking his final vows in 1969, Brother James took up a missionary assignment for 10 years in Nicaragua to build and run a vocational education campus. However, because of the Sandinista Revolution, his religious superiors ordered him and his fellow Brothers to return to the United States out of fear of retaliation due to a governmental regime change.  

After Brother James arrived back in the United States to teach again at Cretin High School, he fell into a period of discouragement, longing for a return to Latin America. Brother James got his wish in 1981: He received an assignment in Huehuetenango, Guatemala. At Casa Indigena and Colegio de La Salle, Brother James taught English, religion and Guatemalan art to indigenous Mayan students.

During that time, the Guatemalan military often rounded up young men from the streets to conscript them into the army. Students were exempt from service, yet boys from the Brothers’ school, Casa Indigena, were still forced to join. When this occurred, the Brothers would provide authorities documentation proving the boys were, in fact, students. This angered the army.

On February 13, 1982, three assailants—presumed to be from the army’s death squad—gunned Brother James down, while he was repairing a wall at the school.

Later, Brother James’ closest friend and confidant, Brother Paul Joslin, FSC, reflected on his death and said that James died doing what he loved: teaching and fixing. 

The Path to Sainthood

On November 8, 2018, Pope Francis declared Brother James Miller, FSC, a martyr of the Church. Brother James was officially beatified, elevated to the title of Blessed, on December 7, 2019, at a Mass held on the soccer field of the Colegio de La Salle in Huehuetenango, Guatemala.  

Now, Brother James’ cause for canonization needs one miracle approved by the Vatican to initiate the final steps of the canonization process. We can all pray for Blessed James’ intercession and recall his example in our own lives.