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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.)