Five Franciscans murdered by Indians in Georgia are on their way to formal recognition as saints.
Monsignor Fred Nijem, drawing on notes by Fr. Conrad Harkins — the vice-postulator for the canonization cause of the Georgia Martyrs — stated that “the missionaries met their death near present-day Darien. The reason for their death was their defense of the sanctity of marriage. The catalyst for their death was their refusal to allow a Catholic to take a second wife.”
They gave explicit and immediate witness of fidelity to Christ.
According to the official website for the Georgia Martyrs, the friars lived for years with the coastal Indians of the Guale territory, learning their language, preaching the gospel, and welcoming many into the faith.
Among the coastal converts was a man named Juanillo, next in line to become tribal chief.
Friar Pedro de Corpa challenged the newly minted Christian’s decision to take a second wife, vowing to oppose his rise to power if he persisted in his polygamic choice. The Indian evidently did not appreciate this challenge to his power.
All of the nearby friars were brutally murdered except for Friar Francisco de Avila, who was kidnapped and tortured until St. Augustine’s governor managed to secure his release — 10 months later. Despite the cruelty he suffered at the hands of the Indians, de Avila refused to testify against them at trial in order to spare their lives.
Prior to his death, Pope Francis recognized the murdered men of the Order of Friars Minor — four of whom were priests — as martyrs whose slayings were committed out of hatred for the Catholic faith.
The Vatican’s Dicastery for the Causes of Saints recently announced that the Georgia Martyrs — Friars Pedro de Corpa, Blas Rodríguez de Cuacos, Miguel de Añón, and Francisco de Veráscola as well as lay brother Antonio de Badajoz — will be beatified at a ceremony in Savannah, Georgia, on October 31.
An English translation of the dicastery’s announcement notes that “aware of the risks connected to the apostolate, they gave explicit and immediate witness of fidelity to Christ and His message by fully transmitting the Church’s teaching.”
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops states that “all Christians are called to be saints. Saints are persons in heaven (officially canonized or not), who lived heroically virtuous lives, offered their life for others, or were martyred for the faith, and who are worthy of imitation.”
The path to sainthood involves three steps: First, a candidate who “lived a heroically virtuous life or offered their life” is recognized by the pope as “venerable.” Second, beatification requires a finding of “one miracle acquired through the candidate’s intercession.” Third, canonization requires a second miracle. However, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops notes that “the pope may waive these requirements. A miracle is not required prior to a martyr’s beatification, but one is required before canonization.”
