Berard, Peter, Accursius, Adjutus and Otto, first martyrs of the Franciscan Order, were all natives of Umbria. Berard, born in Calvi (Narni), was received into the Order by St. Francis in 1213; Peter, a native of San Gemini, became a friar in 1211; Otto was a native of Stroncone. Sent by Francis in 1219 to preach to the Moors, they arrived in Coimbra, Portugal where they were received by Queen Uraca, wife of Alphonsus II. Their first mission to the Moors in Seville was unsuccessful, and they crossed to Morocco where they preached in the presence of King Mira-ma-Molin. The king had them expelled but the friars evaded the guard at Ceuta and returned to their mission. Infuriated by their insistence, the king had them put to death by the sword on 16th January, 1220. Their remains were brought back to Europe and rested in the church of the Canons Regular of St. Augustine of the Holy Cross at Coimbra where St. Anthony of Padua – not yet a friar – was a member of the community. Berard and his companions were canonised in 1481 by Sixtus IV.
First Reading: 1 Cor. 4: 9-13; Gospel: Mt. 10: 16-22
