NNA - Pope Francis presided over a historic canonization mass at the Vatican on Sunday, officially recognizing 14 individuals as saints. Among them were three Maronite brothers from Lebanon, Abdel Mooti, Francis, and Raphael Massabki, who were killed in Damascus, Syria, in 1860.

The Massabki brothers, who frequently supported the Franciscan community in Damascus, met their tragic fate during a violent massacre carried out by Druze militias. This event unfolded amid a larger wave of religious violence that began in Lebanon in 1860. When Druze forces attacked the predominantly Christian town of Zahle in the Bekaa Valley, setting it ablaze, the violence soon spread to Damascus. By July of that year, between 4,000 and 6,000 Christians were killed in the Syrian capital, including the three Massabki brothers.

The brothers had sought refuge in the Franciscan convent of Bab Tuma when the attack began. Despite the danger, they refused to abandon their faith and stood alongside the Franciscan friars. Abdel Mooti, a husband and father of five, helped at the friars' school, while Francis, a silk merchant and father of eight, regularly supported the friars financially. Raphael, the youngest of the three, was unmarried and known for his deep piety and devotion, often spending long hours in prayer at the church.

Their courage in the face of death cemented their place in history as martyrs. On the night of July 9-10, 1860, Druze militants stormed the convent and threw the Massabki brothers from a tower. Alongside them, eight Franciscan friars, including their superior, Father Emmanuel Ruiz, were also killed. Father Ruiz, a Spanish Discalced Carmelite, was executed while trying to protect the Eucharistic hosts from desecration.

The martyrdom of the Massabki brothers, along with the Franciscan friars, was first recognized by the Catholic Church in 1926 when they were beatified by Pope Pius XI. Now, nearly a century later, their sainthood has been proclaimed, honoring their steadfast faith and ultimate sacrifice.

With this canonization, the Massabki brothers join the ranks of revered saints, celebrated not just in Lebanon but by the global Catholic community. Their story is one of devotion, resilience, and the ultimate expression of faith, a legacy that will inspire generations to come. --- Kataeb.org

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