Theirs is a story not often told, not often heard, yet so much in need to be venerated in our memory. Thus I am very happy that the Disciple’s Blog will promote this narrative and honor these heroic men, women and children who witnessed to their faith by their ultimate sacrifice.

But I must begin with a few words about the Missions that established Catholicism in Florida. Contrary to unfortunate myths, the Spanish missionaries in Florida came not to gain riches and territories for Spain, but for the purpose of evangelization. They arrived at an inhospitable land, plagued with mosquitoes, swamps, and unbearable heat. In reading their accounts one wonders how they persevered in the face of so much adversity. Worthy of note is that their evangelization followed the directives of Sublimis Deus, the 1537 bula of Paul III (the same pope who convened the Council of Trent): “The said Indians and all other people who may later be discovered by Christians, are by no means to be deprived of their liberty or the possession of their property, even though they be outside the faith of Jesus Christ; and that they may and should, freely and legitimately, enjoy their liberty and the possession of their property; nor should they be in any way enslaved.”

The Florida Missions went through cycles of success and failure, of decimation and prosperity; from these missions came the men, women and children who witnessed to their faith and laid the foundations of who we are today as a People of God. Spanning three centuries, from Father Luis de Cancer in 1549 to Antonio Cuipa and companions at Ayubale in 1704 the 58 Florida martyrs, comprise a group of Franciscans, Dominican and Jesuit missionaries, Native Americans, lay people, men, women and children (including an unborn child) that witnessed to their Catholic faith with the sacrifice of their lives. Every group of martyrs is identified by a lead name, and the Florida Martyrs are known as Antonio Cuipa and Companions. Antonio was an Appalachian Inija leader. Throughout his suffering he encouraged his fellow sufferers with the consolation of the vision he received from our Blessed Mother during his long martyrdom.

The question arises as to the reasons for and the identity of the perpetrators and the leaders behind such cruelty. In some cases it was due to tribal animosity, on other occasions the Huguenots and the English, both competing powers against Spain and enemies of Roman Catholicism, plied the Cherokees and other native groups with alcohol and incited them to commit atrocities, inflicting torture and death among the Spanish missionaries and Native Peoples who had converted to Catholicism.

Antonio Cuipa and Companions were formally presented to the Vatican for beatification during the Mass on October 12, 2015 at the future site of the Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Martyrs.

Learning about the Catholic heritage of Florida and the story of the Florida martyrs has given me a new perspective on this land we call home. I am conscious that we are “surrounded by this great cloud of witnesses” (Heb 12:1) and the land on which we stand has been made “holy ground” by the enduring offering of their faith.