Franciscan Friars Minor Of Prague

Beatification date: October 13,  2012 by Pope Benedict XVI.

Martyrs List:  1. Bedřich Bachstein - Professed Priest, Franciscan Friars Minor 2. Juan Martínez - Professed Priest, Franciscan Friars Minor  3. Simon - Professed Priest, Franciscan Friars Minor  4. Bartolomeo Dalmasoni - Professed Priest, Franciscan Friars Minor 5.  Girolamo Degli Arese - Professed Cleric, Franciscan Friars Minor 6. Gaspare Daverio - Professed Cleric, Franciscan Friars Minor 7. Jakob -Professed Cleric, Franciscan Friars Minor 8. Klemens - Novice, Franciscan Friars Minor 9. Christoffel Zelt - Professed Religious, Franciscan Friars Minor  10. Didak Jan -Professed Religious, Franciscan Friars Minor 11. Giovanni Bodeo - Professed Religious, Franciscan Friars Minor.  12. Emmanuel - Professed Religious, Franciscan Friars Minor  13. Jan -Novice, Franciscan Friars Minor,  14. Antonín - Novice, Franciscan.

 PROFILE

On October 13, Blessed Bedřich Bachstein and his 13 companions, all from the Order of Friars Minor, were beatified in Prague. Four of the martyrs hailed from what is now the Czech Republic, while the others were natives of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain. “They are the first blesseds in the Year of Faith and are martyrs,” said Pope Benedict; “they remind us that believing in Christ also means being ready to suffer with him and for him.”

The 14 were slain in 1611 by a Protestant mob. Blessed Bachstein, about 50 years of age, was killed by a spear to the heart. Most of the Franciscans were stabbed or beaten to death; Blessed Klemens, a novice, had his head split open by an axe. Blessed Juan Martínez was attempting to protect a ciborium when his hand was cut off and he was stabbed in the back; the hosts were then trampled on.