JULY 10

Day 10: The Massabki brothers: Francis, Abdel Moati, & Raphael (Maronite martyrs, who offered up their lives a burning offering of love to Christ in Damascus in the year 1860).

Francis, Abdel Moati and Rafael were brothers, who lived in Damascus, Syria, in a devout Maronite family, known for its piety, wealth, nobility, and compassion towards the poor and the needy.

In the year 1860, when the Muslims in Damascus and the Druze in Mount and South Lebanon attacked and massacred the Christians, our martyrs, along with a large crowd of Christians, took refuge in the Franciscan monastery in Damascus, after the Muslims had set the fire in the Christian neighborhood. In the monastery they were praying and celebrating the mysteries of forgiveness (confession) and Eucharist for the last time.

While Francis stayed alone in the Church, kneeling down before the statue of Our Lady of Sorrow and praying, he was filled with hope. After midnight a band of armed Muslim rioters broke into the monastery. Christians were terrified and confused, some managed to run away, and others hid themselves. The rioters shouted: “where is Francis Massabki? We are after him”. At that Francis approached them audaciously, saying: “I am Francis Massabki, how can I help you?” They told him, that we have come to save you and your family, under one condition, that you become Muslims, or we will kill you all. He answered them: “We are Christians and faithful to Christ we live and die. We do not fear those who can kill the body, as the Lord Jesus said.”

Then, he looked at his brothers and said to them: “have courage and stand firm in your faith, because the crown of victory is already ready in heaven for those who persevere till the end.” At that his two brothers confessed publicly their faith in the Lord Jesus saying: “We are Christians, and we want to live and die as Christians.” Thus their persecutors attacked them, beating them with their sticks, knives and axes. In this manner they were killed, preferring death over denying their faith in Christ, who crowned them as martyrs. That happened in July 10^th in the year 1860. His holiness Pope Pius XI had declared them blessed in October 10^th, 1926, thanks to the efforts of bishop Bechara Al’Shemali, the Maronite Archbishop of Damascus. May their prayers be with us. Amen.