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From the Pastor’s Desk
As you leave Mass today, a holy card is being provided for you that depicts a Franciscan priest who is believed to be the first native of St. Augustine to be ordained to the priesthood – Augustin Ponce de Leon, OFM. His cause for canonization is part of the larger cause for the Martyrs of La Florida.
Fray Augustin was born to Spanish parents and was baptized in the parish (the record is in the Archives of the First Parish). When he was 13, he entered the Franciscan Seminary here (where the headquarters of the Florida National Guard on Marine Street now stands). He served at the Mission of Nombre de Dios Chiquito which was located north of the St. Augustine. In 1705 he received word that British soldiers had raided the village of his mission and two of his altar boys, Julio and Jacinto, had been captured. The mission’s sacristan, Roberto, escaped to find Fray Augustin and get him the news. The account of his martyrdom states:
“He caught up with the British and, holding his arms in the air to show he was unarmed, he pleaded for the lives of his people, especially the two small altar boys. The raiding party shot him but he kept coming, assuring them he had no weapons. This enraged the allies and they turned around, bringing the 2 altar boys with them. They caught an already wounded Father Augustine, clubbing him. Before he died, they made him watch as they killed the two boys. Later, as Roberto was trying to collect their bodies for burial, he was caught and killed as well.”
In order to promote knowledge of the Martyrs of La Florida our parish has adopted Fray Augustin. The picture on the holy card depicts him enjoying time with Julio and Jacinto. You are invited to pray that God will bless the Church through the intercession of Fray Augustin and all the Martyrs of La Florida. For more information you can go to martyrsoflafloridamissions.org.
Love,
Fr. Tom