Saints celebrated on the 10th of July
SAINT MANUEL RUIZ AND COMPANIONS, MARTYRS OF DAMASCUS
The persecution of Christians in the city of Damascus, which resulted in thousands of Christian victims, was taken to new heights on July 9, 1860, when, during the night, in the cover of dark, a command of rebels - animated by a deep-rooted religious hatred - managed to penetrate through a hidden door indicated by a traitor, into the Franciscan friary of St Paul. Eight Friars Minor (seven of Spaniards and one from Tyrol/Austria) and three Maronite lay Christians, who were also blood-brothers, were barbarously slaughtered. It was clearly a martyr's death: before brutally inflicting the fatal blows, the attackers asked them to renounce the Christian faith and embrace Islam, which these Saints steadfastly refused.
The group of Martyrs was composed of Friar Manuel Ruiz López, priest, superior, born in 1804 in Burgos, who was 56 years old at the time of his martyrdom; Friar Carmelo Bolta Bañuls, priest, born in 1803 in Valencia; Friar Engelbert Kolland, priest, born in 1827 in Ramsau, Austria, who was 33 years old at the time; Friar Nicanor Ascanio Soria, priest, born in 1814 in Madrid; Friar Nicolás María Alberca Torres, priest, born in 1830 in Córdoba, who had been transferred from the Brothers of Jesus Nazarene Hospital in 1856 and was ordained two years before his martyrdom at age 30; Friar Pedro Nolasco Soler Méndez, priest, born in 1827 in Murcia, Spain; Friar Francisco Pinazo Peñalver, born in 1802 in Valencia, Spain; Friar Juan Jacob Fernández, born in 1808 in Ourense, Spain; as well as Francis Massabki, Maronite layman, silk merchant; Mooti (Muti) Massabki, Maronite layman, teacher at the Franciscan school; and their younger brother Raphael Massabki, Maronite layman.
These holy men were beatified in 1926. According to the Franciscan website, the revival of the Cause had recently been determined by the myriad of signs attributed to their intercession, as well as by the spread of their cult. Associated with this was the hope that their canonisation may be a message of dialogue, peace and unity in the Middle East, which is increasingly shaken by the winds of war. Pope Francis at their canonisation on October 20, 2024, stressed the examples of these Saints, saying they did not live for their own glory but for the glory of God, making themselves servants to their brothers and sisters.
He invited Christians to pray through their intercession, "so that we too can follow Christ, follow him in service, and become witnesses of hope for the world."
Sources:
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-10/pope-canonization-mass-martyrs-damascus-homily-service.html
https://ofm.org/en/blessed-martyrs-of-damascus.html
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martyrs_of_Damascus
PRAYER:
May your Church rejoice, O God, trusting in the support of your holy martyrs Manuel Ruiz López and his Companions, and, by their glorious prayers, may she remain holy and fearlessly stand her ground. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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