From Our Pastor's Desk
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From Our Pastor's Desk
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The Martyrs of la Florida
After suffering from dawn until dusk, Antonio received a great gift: the Blessed Mother appeared to him. Antonio declared that the Most Holy Virgin was helping him to endure his martyrdom. The extraordinary faith and holy death of these Florida natives captured the admiration of the Spanish King, Philip V, who directed his ambassador in Rome to inform the Pope of this event. 31) Fray Manuel de Mendoza, O.F.M. (June 3, 1704)32) Sacristan 33-34) two-year old Native American (June 3, 1704 or shortly thereafter) and Native American woman of Patale (between June 3 and June 9, 1704) Fray Manuel de Mendoza, a native of the Castilian town of Medina de Rioseco, served for 26 years in the Florida missions. Known for his generosity to the poor, Fr. Mendoza succeeded Fr. Parga at Mission Patale. Some four months after the carnage in January 1704, the English renewed their attacks on the Florida missions. Fr. Mendoza was shot and burned after he was lured out of his convent. Fr. Mendoza’s sacristan was also killed, and the convent was burned. Also killed were a two-year old and a woman who had been taken captive from Patale. 35) Balthasar Francisco (July 4, 1704) 36) Don Pedro Marmolejo (July 4, 1704) 37–51) 15 Apalachee Indians (July 4, 1704) These Spanish soldiers and Native Americans were tortured and crucified on July 4, 1704 a half league west of Mission Patale following the battle that marked the end of the Catholic missions in Apalachee. The English and their Creek allies tied fifteen faithful Apalachee men and two Spanish soldiers to the outdoor Stations of the Cross surrounding the plaza in Patale. They set fires at the foot of these crosses, slashed their captives, and put burning splinters in their wounds. Despite his intense suffering, Baltasar Francisco preached from the cross and called upon the Virgin Mary, confi-dent that she would carry him to God. 52) Timucuan Cacique of San Pedro (August 1704) 53) Timucuan Cacique of San Mateo (August 1704) Following the devastation in Apalachee, English-allied Indians con-tinued to attack the remaining missions in northern Florida. In August of 1704, the Timucuan villages of San Pedro and San Mateo were destroyed and their caciques (leaders) burned. 54) Fray Agustín Ponce de León, O.F.M. (September 3, 1705) Fr. Agustín Ponce de León, O.F.M., a native of St. Augustine, had gone with Capt. Joseph Begambre in pursuit of some Native Americans who had taken numerous prisoners—women and children—from the town over which Fr. Agustín had care. During a battle at dawn on September 3, Fr.Agustín distinguished himself by encouraging the Spanish and Native Americans and by administering the sacrament of penance to the wounded. Like a “good pastor he gave up his soul in defense of his sheep and the children of his doctrina,” but he managed to bring about the release of the majority of the prisoners. We will continue next week. Source: Martyrs - Martyrs of La Florida Missions - Tallahassee, FL Comments are closed.
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