Catholic Church Declares 5 Georgia Martyrs Blessed, Advancing 400-Year-Old Sainthood Cause
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Oct 31
Catholic Church Declares 5 Georgia Martyrs Blessed, Advancing 400-Year-Old Sainthood Cause
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Oct 31
Summary
Five Franciscan friars killed in coastal Georgia more than 400 years ago were declared “blessed” on Saturday, a rare step that moves them closer to sainthood.
The church recognized Pedro de Corpa, Blas Rodríguez de Cuacos, Miguel de Añon, Antonio de Badajoz and Francisco de Veráscola as martyrs, saying they were killed in defense of their faith.
The friars had come from Spain to missions among the Guale people, learned the local language and sought conversions before conflict erupted as Christian teachings clashed with Indigenous traditions.
Thousands gathered in Savannah for the beatification Mass, capping decades of efforts by Franciscans and South Georgia Catholics to revive the men’s memory.
If canonized, the five could join roughly a dozen American saints and become the first with ties to the U.S. South.