SEVEN FRIAR MINORS, MARTYRS

FIVE Franciscan missionaries having glorified God by martyrdom in Morocco in 1220, on the 16th of January, as has been related on that day; seven other zealous priests of the same order sailed to Africa the year following, with the same view of announcing Christ to the Mahometans. Their names were Daniel the provincial of Calabria, Samuel, Angelus, Donulus, Leo, Nicholas, and Hugolin. Arriving at Ceuta, they preached three days in the suburb of the city, which was inhabited by Christians; after which they went into the town, and preached Christ also to the infidels. The populace hearing them, immediately took fire, covered them with mire and filth, and carried them before their king, whose name was Mahomet. From their rough habits and shorn heads he took them for madmen, but sent them to the governor of the town. By him, after a long examination, they were remanded to the king, who condemned them to be beheaded. They suffered with great joy in the year 1221, on the 10th of October; but are commemorated in the Roman Martyrology on the 13th. See F. Wadding’s Annals of the order, St. Antoninus, and Chalippe, Vie de St. François,1. 4, t. 1. p. 326.