During the religious wars in the Netherlands, one of the Calvinist bands known as the “Sea Beggars” seized the town of Gorkum (Holland) on 26th June 1572, and as well as four other priests, they imprisoned Nicholas Pieck who was guardian of the local friary and ten of his Franciscan community. They were treated with great cruelty by the soldiers, then marched to Brielle on 7th July where they were hanged two days later for not renouncing faith in the Real Presence and the primacy of the pope. All nineteen, known as the Martyrs of Gorkum, were canonised in 1867 by Bl. Pius IX.
First Reading: Eph. 6: 10-18; Gospel: Luke 6: 22-23, 27-28
