SAVANNAH, Ga. (OSV News) — Abundant gratitude was expressed for the Oct. 31 beatification of five Franciscans known as the Georgia Martyrs in a Mass of thanksgiving at the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist on Nov. 1, the solemnity of All Saints.
Presiding over the Mass was Archbishop Gregory J. Hartmayer of Atlanta, who served as bishop of Savannah from 2011 until his appointment to Atlanta in 2020. In remarks at the beginning of Mass, he expressed gratitude to his predecessors in Savannah, the diocese’s current leader Bishop Stephen D. Parkes, Franciscan leaders and others who championed the martyrs’ cause over decades.
“These were my brothers in St. Francis — Franciscans, Friars Minor,” said Archbishop Hartmayer, a Conventual Franciscan friar. “The Church asked with great patience: Did these men die because they would not betray the faith?
“In January of last year, Pope Francis answered for the full Church, and yesterday, Cardinal (Frank) Leo, legate of Pope Leo XIV, proclaimed it,” he continued. “The Church does not ‘make’ saints; she recognizes them.”
‘We can pray through their intercession’
Archbishop Hartmayer reflected on his own role in advancing the cause of Blessed Pedro de Corpa and companions, noting that when he was ordained bishop of Savannah, he found the cause “waiting for me,” and he worked with local Church leaders “to keep it moving” and “to make these men known to south Georgia and beyond,” which he continued in Atlanta, he said.
The Church rejoices, he said, to see the day that the martyrs who “gave their lives in 1597 on the shores of Brunswick and Darien, St. Simons (Island and) St. Catherines Island” were beatified.
“They are on their way to being saints, saints of the Church, and we can pray through their intercession now, as they are blessed, for our own needs, for the needs of others,” he said.
Saints ‘let God’s light shine through them’
The Mass of thanksgiving coincided with the solemnity of All Saints, a major feast day in the Church that commemorates all in the communion of saints, including those who have not been formally canonized and do not have a memorial on the Church’s liturgical calendar.
Preaching the Mass’ homily to a full cathedral with many families with children, Bishop Parkes described the saints as “the people who let God’s light shine through them” like stained-glass windows.
Noting the many saints depicted in the cathedral’s windows, he said, “They are all shades, hues, colors of holiness” like the Beatitudes described in the Mass’ Gospel reading from Matthew 5:1-12.
“The shades that we see in the windows can represent the poor, persecuted, meek, merciful, the clean of heart and the peacemakers,” he said. “When we adopt those qualities, our rewards will be great in heaven.”
Georgia martyrs ‘probably amazed’ by attention
Turning to the Georgia Martyrs, Bishop Parkes said, “Saints have lived in all eras, have different personalities, many inspiring stories, including our new blesseds: Pedro, Blas, Miguel, Antonio and Francisco.”
Friars Pedro de Corpa, Blas Rodríguez de Cuacos, Miguel de Añon, Antonio de Badajoz and Francisco de Veráscola, known together as the Georgia Martyrs, were missionaries who came from Spain to serve the Guale people in coastal Georgia. They were all killed within days of each other by the order of the soon-to-be chief Juanillo after Father Pedro stood by the Church’s teaching on marriage when Juanillo wanted to take a second wife.
“I can only think that these holy men in the Franciscan spirituality are probably amazed that they would be even spoken about here, over 400 years later, but we have confidence that they are praying for each one of us,” he said.
Among the Nov. 1 Mass’ concelebrants was Cardinal Leo, who, as the papal delegate, had presided over the beatification Mass, as well as Bishop Elias R. Lorenzo, an auxiliary bishop of Newark, N.J.; Bishop Jeffrey J. Walsh of Gaylord, Michigan; Bishop Isaac Dugu of Katsina-Ala, Nigeria; and Bishop Anselm Umoren, an auxiliary bishop of Abuja, Nigeria.
Martyrs’ impact on marriage
With their beatification, the Georgia Martyrs’ cause could advance to canonization with the official recognition of a miracle attributed to their intercession.
“I’ll be honest: I am not sure where all of this is going to go,” Bishop Parkes said, “but I am confident in the Holy Spirit. I am confident in the continued work, the graces that will be poured out after this beatification.”
Bishop Parkes said that the martyrs’ witness is expected to inspire diocesan efforts to further promote “the dignity of marriage and healthy family life.” He said the diocese will celebrate the martyrs on their Sept. 22 liturgical memorial, and perhaps that day pray for the advancement of the martyrs’ cause, as well as for couples in Georgia preparing for marriage.
Bishop Parkes also suggested that marrying couples include in their wedding Mass an intercessory prayer for Blessed Pedro de Corpa and companions “to work within the newly married couple.”
“There are many other ways we can continue to offer these holy men,” he said. “We have received a gift, and with any gift that we receive, we should always accept it with gratitude, with thanksgiving in our hearts.”
Seeking ‘extraordinary favors’
The Mass program requested that “extraordinary favors received from God through the intercession of the Georgia Martyrs should be reported to The Cause of the Georgia Martyrs, 2170 E. Victory Drive, Savannah, Georgia, 31404, or thegeorgiamartyrs.org.”
In Rome Nov. 1, Pope Leo drew attention to the Georgia Martyrs after he prayed the Sunday Angelus in St. Peter’s Square.
“Originally from Spain, they responded generously to the Lord’s call to evangelize the peoples of the Americas, even to the point of giving their lives,” he said. “Let us invoke the intercession of these martyrs for all missionaries of the Gospel.”
Maria Wiering is senior managing editor for OSV News. Lauretta Brown, OSV News’ culture editor, reported from Savannah.
