This group of eleven martyrs were killed for their faith during the 1860 persecution of Christians by the Druze, a sect that originated in a branch of Shia Islam. A group of Druze extremists entered the Franciscan friary of St. Paul in Damascus overnight on July 9-10, 1860. They demanded that those present denounce their faith and convert to Islam. When the eleven men in the friary refused to do this, they were killed.
Eight of the martyrs were Franciscan friars of the Custody of the Holy Land—two brothers and six priests. One was Austrian. The others were Spanish. Here are the names of the Franciscans: Manuel Ruiz López, Carmelo Bolta Bañuls, Englebert Kolland, Nicanor Ascanio Soria, Nicolás María Alberca Torres, Pedro Nolasco Soler Méndez, Francisco Pinazo Peñalver, and Juan Jacob Fernández. The other three were laymen belonging to the Maronite Rite, who had sought shelter with the Franciscans from the Druze. Their names are Abdel Moati, Francis Massabki and Raphael Massabki.
Thousands of Maronite Rite Christians had already been killed by the Druze in Southern Lebanon earlier that year. Then the Druze turned their attention to Syria, specifically to Damascus, where they killed nearly two thousand more. When they reached the Franciscan friary, they encountered the religious superior, Fr. Manuel Ruiz López. They demanded he convert to Islam. When he refused to do that, they cut him to pieces. The other Franciscans and the three Maronite brothers similarly refused to renounce their faith. As a result, they were all murdered.
In the canonization Mass Pope Francis declared that the Martyrs of Damascus and the three 19th-century founders of religious orders canonized with them lived the way of Jesus. That is, they lived a life of service. He added, “They made themselves servants of their brothers and sisters, creative in doing good, steadfast in difficulties, and generous to the end.”
The liturgical calendar of the Custody of the Holy Land celebrates the martyrs of Damascus each year on July 10. The feast is observed by both the Latin and Maronite Rites.
Until next week,
Fr. John