January 16 - Saint Berard and Companions
breski1
Accursius
Memorial
16 January
Profile
Franciscan Friar Minor. Saint Francis of Assisi to evangelize the Moors of the West. He and his fellow missionaries preached in Italy, Aragon, Coimbra, Seville, and finally in Morocco, where they were banished and, upon their return, martyred.
Died
16 January 1220 in Morocco by being scourged till his ribs appeared bare, having burning oil and vinegar poured into the wounds, body rolled on sharp stones and potsherds, then his head split by a sword
relics were ransomed, and are now in the monastery of the Holy Cross in Coimbra, Portugal
Canonized
1481 by Pope Sixtus IV
Representation
sword
friar with a sword in his chest
Adiuto
Adjutus

Memorial
16 January
Died
16 January 1220 in Morocco by being scourged till his ribs appeared bare, having burning oil and vinegar poured into the wounds, body rolled on sharp stones and potsherds, then his head split by a sword
relics were ransomed, and are now in the monastery of the Holy Cross in Coimbra, Portugal
Canonized
1481 by Pope Sixtus IV
Representation
sword
Berardes of Carbio
Berard of….
Berardo of….
Beraldus of….

Memorial
16 January
Profile
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.
Born
at Carbio, Umbria, Italy
Died
beheaded on 16 January 1220 in Morocco
relics were ransomed, and are now in the monastery of the Holy Cross in Coimbra, Portugal
Canonized
1481 by Pope Sixtus IV

Saint Otto of Morocco
Memorial
16 January
Profile
Franciscan Friar Minor. Saint Francis of Assisi to evangelize the Moors of the West. He and his fellow missionaries preached in Italy, Aragon, Coimbra, Seville, and finally in Morocco, where they were banished and, upon their return, martyred.
Died
16 January 1220 in Morocco by being scourged till his ribs appeared bare, having burning oil and vinegar poured into the wounds, body rolled on sharp stones and potsherds, then his heads split by a sword
relics were ransomed, and are now in the monastery of the Holy Cross in Coimbra, Portugal
Canonized
1481 by Pope Sixtus IV

Saint Peter of Morocco
Memorial
16 January
Profile
Franciscan Friar Minor. Saint Francis of Assisi to evangelize the Moors of the West. He and his fellow missionaries preached in Italy, Aragon, Coimbra, Seville, and finally in Morocco, where they were banished and, upon their return, martyred.
Died
16 January 1220 in Morocco by being scourged till his ribs appeared bare, having burning oil and vinegar poured into the wounds, body rolled on sharp stones and potsherds, then his heads split by a sword
relics were ransomed, and are now in the monastery of the Holy Cross in Coimbra, Portugal
Canonized
1481 by Pope Sixtus IV