On January 27, Pope Francis approved a decree recognizing the martyrdom of five Spanish Franciscan missionaries whose ministry was in 16th-century Florida territory, now part of the Diocese of Savannah in Georgia.
These friars arrived from Spain to evangelize among the Guale communities and eventually refused to permit a baptized individual to take multiple spouses. Their adherence to Church teaching on the sacrament of marriage led to the events in which they were martyred.
The group—Fathers Pedro de Corpa, Blas RodrĂguez, Miguel de Añon, Francisco de Veráscola and Brother Antonio de BadajĂłz—were killed in September 1597 “in hatred of the faith.”
These Franciscans were part of larger missionary efforts that spread north from St. Augustine. Historical records show they instructed local inhabitants in Catholic teaching, including sacramental marriage. No military was stationed at their missions and accounts describe the friars living in humble conditions.
Bishop Stephen D. Parkes of Savannah prayed that they may “intercede for families everywhere, and inspire husbands and wives around the world to live out the sacrament of marriage with love, truth, and fidelity.”
A date for their beatification has not yet been announced.
Photo credit: Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
