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SEPTEMBER -17, 1955.
THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
THREE
Martyrdom
In Georgia...
Information contained in this
article has been gathered from,
our files. It mas gathered over
the years by the late Hugh Kinch-
ley, Editor of■ the Bulletin from
1940 until his death.in 1953 and
Richard Reid. Editor of The
Catholic Neivs. Mr. Reid was
editor of The Bulletin from 1920
until 1940.
In our recitation of the litany
of the Saints, when We implore
the intercession of Patriarchs and
Prophets, Apostles and Martyrs,
Confessors and Virgins, we are,
perhaps, inclined to think of mar
tyrs in terms of those who suffer
ed ' persecution under the pagan
emperors of Rome or who died
for the Faith in other far away
times and places.
Many of us fail to remember
that North America had its own
martyrs, and it is possible that a
number of Catholics in Georgia
do not even know that years be
fore the Jesuit Martyrs were put
to death in New York, Franciscan
missionaries died like martyrs, at
the hands of the Indians within
the territory which is now the
State of Georgia.
In the fall of 159J, a young In
dian chieftain, called Juanillo,
, who had become a convert to the
Catholic Faith, later abandoned
the Christian way of life taught
by the missionaries. He was not
satisfied with one wife, and re
lapsed into polygamy, the pagan
mode of life. Being reprimanded
by Father Pedro de Corpa, the
Franciscan missionary at Tolo-
mato, located on the mainland op
posite Zapala Island,^which we
now know as Sapelo Island, and
filled with rage and resentment,
Juanillo gathered a mob of pagan
warriors about him and breaking
into Father Corps’s dwelling, they
killed the priest with a tomahawk
as he knelt in prayer, and then
severing his head, fixed it on top
of a pole.
The infuriated young savage
was not content with the slaugh
ter of the missionary who had
censured him for his immoral life,
but with his angry mob, which
gathered strength as it went
along, rushed to neighboring mis
sions to deal death to four other
Franciscans.
Going northward on the main
land, to Tupiqua, near the- mouth
of the Altamaha River, the In
dians’ thirst for blood claimed
another victim, the venerable
Father Bias Rodriguez.
Bursting into the chapel where
Father Rodriguez was vesting for
Mass, the Indians told him that
they had come to kill him. Calmly
facing those who had announced
themselves as his executioners,
the Franciscan friar asked that
: they grant him one favor in return
for many which he had done for
them—that they would postpone
this massacre until after he had
offered the Holy Sacrifice of the
Mass. The Indians agreed, and
‘with a congregation which includ
ed with the murderous mob some
of the devoted, distressed Chris
tian Indians, who were powerless
to aid him. Father Rodriguez
ascended the Altar of God and
offered the double sacrifice of
Christ and of himself in atone
ment for the sins of his execu
tioners, partaking of the Sacred
Host which was his Viaticum. He
was annointed with his own
blood.
At the Mission* of Santa Cata
lina, near the mouth of the Sav
annah River, Juanillo and his sav
age Indians found Father Miguel
Aunon and Brother Antonio Bada-
joz at prayer after Mass. The lay
brother was given a blow with a
hatchet from which he soon died,
but because of the respect which
they had for Father Miguel the
apostate Indians, hesitated to
harm him, waited several days be
fore one of them struck the friar
a vicious blow which crushed his
head.
Juanillo then led his murderous
mob to Asao, known to us as St,
Simons Island, where Father
Francisco de Verascola was in
charge of the Mission of Santa
Domingo. The priest was. away
at the time, having gone to St.
Augustine to obtain some things
necessary for the mission, and the
Indians. Upon his return to his
mission, as he disembarked, the
Indians approached him with a
disguised attitude of friendship,
and then killed him with an ax.
Next the Indians hastened to
what we know as Jekyll Island
to kill Father Francisco de, Avila,
who was in charge of San Bona-
ventura Mission there. Father de
Avila escaped death, but he was
wounded with arrows and then
held in cruel captivity for nearly
(Continued on Page Eight)
MARKER AT ST. SIMONS ISLAND. GA.
PLAN NOW TO ATTEND
MINTH REGIONAL CONGRESS
*
The Confraternity Of Christian Doctrine
and
FORTIETH RHHEfSL OGfflTlOH
The Cathoh'c Laymen's Association of Georgia
General Oglethorpe Hotel, Savannah
October 21, 22, 23,1955
REGISTRATION AND RESERVATION
NINTH REGIONAL CONGRESS. CCD
FORTIETH ANNUAL CONVENTION. CLA OF GA,
General Oglethorpe Hotel, Savannah
N
October 21, 22, 23, 1355
Name:
Address: r
City & State: j
Please Reserve Room at Hotel Yes No
Note: Please enclose Registration Fee of $1.00 and 'mail to Monsignor
McNamara, 222 East Harris Street, Savannah, Georgia. (Brothers, Sisters
and Students 50c. Mail not later than October 5, 1955.)