The Catholic Church is poised to beatify five Spanish Franciscan missionaries who gave their lives for the Gospel in 1597, according to Catholic News Agency. Known as the “Georgia Martyrs,” these holy men were killed “in odium fidei” (“in hatred of the faith”) specifically for upholding the sanctity of marriage, according to a decree promulgated by the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints on January 22, 2025.
These five Franciscans—Father Pedro de Corpa, Father Blas Rodríguez, Father Miguel de Añón, Brother Antonio de Badajóz, and Father Francisco de Veráscola—were martyred during a four-day period in what was then Spanish Florida. Their deaths occurred between September 14 and 18, 1597, at the hands of members of the Guale tribe. The first martyrdom took place on the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Sept. 14), while the third and fourth occurred on a Franciscan feast day—the feast of St. Francis of Assisi receiving the stigmata (Sept. 17). The events are a profound testament to their unwavering commitment to their faith and mission.
A Conflict Over Marriage
At the heart of the martyrdom was Father Pedro de Corpa’s defense of Christian marriage. De Corpa had rebuked Juanillo, a Christian convert and heir to the chief of the Guale tribe, for taking a second wife in violation of his baptismal and wedding vows. This confrontation angered Juanillo, who recruited warriors to carry out a violent retaliation. According to the official website for the Georgia Martyrs, the first attack occurred at the mission of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (Our Lady of Guadalupe), near present-day Darien, Georgia. There, the Guale warriors struck down Father de Corpa at dawn on September 14, 1597.
The violence continued as the band of warriors moved to other Franciscan missions in the region. On September 16, Father Rodríguez was killed at his outpost near present-day Eulonia, Georgia. The following day, Father Añón and Brother Badajóz were martyred on St. Catherine’s Island. Finally, on September 18, Father Veráscola was ambushed and killed on St. Simon’s Island as he returned from a supply trip to St. Augustine, Florida.
A Long Journey Toward Recognition
The martyrdom of these Franciscans has been a source of inspiration and devotion for centuries. However, the path to formal recognition has been long and arduous. Spanish authorities investigated the murders shortly after they occurred, but the missions were abandoned in 1686 due to British colonial expansion. The process of seeking beatification began in earnest in 1941, when U.S. bishops petitioned Pope Pius XII to recognize the martyrs. Decades later, Bishop Raymond Lessard of Savannah opened the local cause in 1980, with assistance from Franciscans in the United States. In 2007, the Diocese of Savannah closed the local phase of the investigation.
The cause gained significant momentum in 2022 when the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints approved the case, advancing it to Rome. As of September 14, 2022—the 425th anniversary of Father de Corpa’s martyrdom—the Vatican formally recognized their martyrdom.
A Legacy of Faith and Family
Bishop Stephen Parkes of Savannah expressed gratitude for the recognition, stating that the martyrs are now entitled to the title of “Venerables.” He added, “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” (according to the Diocese of Savannah).
Efforts to share the story of the Georgia Martyrs have included a $75,000 grant awarded to the Diocese of Savannah in 2019 by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. This grant supported the production of a documentary titled For the Sake of the Gospel, which premiered on EWTN in 2024. Author Paul Thigpen, founder of Friends of the Georgia Martyrs, emphasized their enduring relevance: “Father Pedro and his companions served the Guale people heroically and offered up their lives in witness to the Gospel and the sanctity of marriage. We need that witness now more than ever.”
Witnesses for Our Time
The Georgia Martyrs’ sacrifices illuminate the profound courage required to stand for the Gospel, even in the face of death. Their story reminds Catholics today of the sanctity of marriage and the call to evangelize with truth and love. As their beatification approaches, their witness offers hope and inspiration to families and believers worldwide.
