America's Georgia Martyrs to be Beatified on Oct. 31 - Franciscan Missionaries who brought the Faith to the USA


On October 31, 2026, the American "Georgia Martyrs" will be beatified during a Mass in Savannah, Georgia, United States.
History: There were dozens of Franciscan missions up and down the U.S. Georgia coast, and generations of indigenous Catholics were buried in the sand of now lost missions.  The nation’s oldest book was written in Georgia (a Catechism in the language of one of our lost tribes of native Georgians).  The first documented baptism in the U.S.A. took place in what is today Georgia.   Georgia was once a part of what the Spanish called la Florida, and that is where these martyrs were missionaries.
 "The Venerable Servants of God, Pedro de Corpa, Blas Rodríguez de Cuacos, Miguel de Añón, Antonio de Badajoz and Francisco de Veráscola, Spaniards of the Order of Friars Minor, in the 16th century agreed to be sent on a mission to North American territories driven by an authentic spirit of love for Christ and service to the Church."

The Georgia Martyrs, Venerable Servants of God, to be Beatified

Bishop Stephen D. Parkes announced that on January 27, 2025, Pope Francis authorized the promulgation of the Decree concerning the martyrdom of the Servants of God Pedro de Corpa and Companions, of the Order of Friars Minor, killed in odium fidei ("hatred of the faith") in September 1597.

The publication of the Decree – declaring that the friars were true martyrs for Christ – is an official act that paves the way for the celebration of the rite of beatification. From this day forward and until beatification, Friar Pedro de Corpa, Friar Blas Rodríguez, Friar Miguel de Añon, Friar Antonio de Badajóz, and Friar Francisco de Veráscola are entitled to the title of “Venerables.”

Details regarding the rite of beatification will be forthcoming.

Bishop Parkes  thanked the Holy Father; His Eminence Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints; the Order of Friars Minor of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Province; and all of those who have worked to promote the Cause of the Georgia Martyrs for over four decades. May Venerable Friar Pedro de Corpa and Companions intercede for families everywhere, and inspire husbands and wives around the world to live out the sacrament of marriage with love, truth, and fidelity.
Sources: https://thegeorgiamartyrs.org/

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