GEORGIA MARTYRS

 

 

 

In our Blog for June 17, we mentioned a new Center for Sainthood in California, which through studies, will increase the chances for more American saints. Since we think of July as a month dedicated to our country’s beginning and independence, I thought I would showcase some of those being considered of canonization, and we will start with the earliest, who will soon be beatified. Their feast day will be September 8, which they will share with the Mother of God's birthday.

 The Church was in the American South (la Florida) fully two centuries before St. Junipero Serra was building missions in California. These southern missionaries were preaching the Gospel to the indigenous peoples in an area that is today made up of the states of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. The missions in coastal Georgia included missionaries to the Guale peoples, among whom The GEORGIA MARTYRS labored to bring the Gospel of Christ.

 

 These Franciscan friars were murdered in September 1597 "in hatred of the faith" while conducting missionary work in Spanish Florida. Their particular mission took place in what is now the State of Georgia. As of January 2025, they have been formally declared martyrs by the Catholic Church and are set to be beatified.

 Spanish missions in Florida began with the earliest settlement in Florida, St. Augustine. Thus, the Spanish Franciscan missionaries operated out of this city. By 1597, the Franciscans had learned the local language of the Guale people and began to convert them, without military presence. 

  One of the main concerns with the evangelization of this region was reconciling the local culture's position on marriage (which allowed polygamy) and the Catholic Church's position on marriage (which believes marriage is between one man and one woman exclusively). It was ultimately this issue which led to the death of the friars, in a rebel uprising that sought to wipe out all the missionaries in the land. 

Those rebels eventually lost out, and more Franciscans were invited back by the Guale people, serving the tribe for generations

Eventually, the British colonies wiped out all traces of the Catholic missions as well as the Guale peoples, who were no more, yet the legacy of the missionaries lives on. The first book (now lost) that was written in what is today the United States was a catechism and primer in the language of the Guale people.

The story of these friars was first communicated by Luis Gerónimo de Oré to King Philip III of Spain. By the 17th century, they were listed in many Franciscan martyrologies.

In the 1950s, the Friars Minor of the United States began to consider honoring their deaths. Their work culminated with Raymond W. Lessard, Bishop of the Diocese of Savannah, approving the investigation of their lives and the manner of their deaths. He opened a cause for their beatification on February 22, 1984.

Pedro de Corpa was born circa 1560 in Corpa, near Alcalá. He joined the Franciscan Order around 1577 and was likely ordained around 1584. On July 21, 1587, Pedro and twelve other friars (including Antonio de Badajoz) set sail from San Lúcar de Barrameda and again from Havana on September 29, arriving at St. Augustine on October 5. Pedro was assigned to work at Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Tolomato. He was the first to be martyred on September 14, 1597. 

Blas Rodríguez was born in the 1550s in Cuacos de Yuste, Cáceres. In the early to mid-1570s, he joined the Franciscans and was ordained sometime in the 1580s. On May 17, 1590, he was approved to be sent to the New World and was assigned to Tupiqui.  Before being executed on September 16, 1597, he was allowed to celebrate a final Mass and preach:

 My sons, for me it is not difficult to die. Even if you do not cause it, the death of this body is inevitable. We must be ready at all times, for we, all of us, have to die someday. But what does pain me is that the Evil One has persuaded you to do this offensive thing against your God and Creator. It is a further source of deep grief to me that you are unmindful of what we missionaries have done for you in teaching you the way to eternal life and happiness.  ( Blas Rodríguez, quoted by Luis Gerónimo de Oré, The Martyrs of Florida)

Miguel de Añon was born in Añón de Moncayo in the 1540s and entered the Franciscans around 1570. His ordination date is unknown and he was sent to the colony of Puerto Rico (and later to Florida) on July 14, 1595, with Francisco de Verascola. His arrival to St. Augustine was delayed until September 23 due to a tropical storm. He was then assigned to Santa Catalina de Guale, which was originally a Jesuit mission site. Antonio was selected to join Miguel due to his extensive knowledge of the local language. He was ultimately killed when an unbaptized Indian beat him unconscious with a tomahawk. Another Indian then killed him and this Indian then hung himself a few days later. He was martyred September 17, 1597.

Antonio de Badajoz was born in Badajoz. He is the only one of the Georgia Martyrs to be a lay brother. He came to Florida by following the same route as Pedro. He may have worked at a number of missions, ultimately ending at Santa Catalina. He was martyred September 17, 1597.

Francisco de Veráscola Sáez de Castañiza was born and baptized on February 13, 1564, in Gordejuela. He entered the Franciscans in the 1580s and was ordained around 1590. He left from San Lúcar on July 14, 1595, alongside Miguel and was assigned to Asao, modern-day St. Simons Island. He left his assignment at Santo Domingo de Asao on canoe for St. Augustine to resupply the mission. Once he disembarked he was axed to death in late September 1597.

 

 ART: Top is by Daniel Mitsui. This artwork is a reproduction of an original pen and ink drawing on calfskin. It is on display in the Narthex of Mary Our Queen Catholic Church. 

The five Franciscan Martyrs of Georgia: Friar Pedro de Corpa (seated), Friar Blas Rodríguez (bound), Friar Antonio de Badajoz (with rosary), Friar Miguel Anon (with palm), and Friar Francisco de Verascola (with oar).