St. Berard of Carbio

  Posted on January 15, 2019  by admin  No comments

Born: unknown Carbio, Umbria, Papal States

Died: 16 January 1220 Morocco

Venerated: in Catholic Church (Franciscan Order)

Canonized: 7 August 1481, Rome by Pope Sixtus IV

Major shrine: Monastery of the Holy Cross, Coimbra, Portugal

Feast: 16 January

Berard of Carbio, O.F.M., was a thirteenth-century Franciscan friar who was executed in Morocco for attempting to promote Christianity. He and his companions, Peter, Otho, Accursius, and Adjutus, are venerated as saints and considered the Franciscan Protomartyrs.

Born to the Italian nobility. Franciscan monk accepted into the order by Saint Francis of Assisi himself in 1213. Priest. Preacher. Spoke Arabic. Leader of a party (with Peter, Otho, Accursius, and Adjutus) sent by Saint Francis to preach to Muslims in Morocco. Upon arrival, they began preaching in the market place. They were immediately arrested and ordered to stop. When the group continued to preach, they were beaten. When they refused to renouce Christ, the sultan beheaded them. They are believed to be the first Franciscan martyrs. Upon viewing their relics, young Anthony of Padua was moved to join the Franciscans and set off to preach in Morocco.