IN TODAY’S LIVES OF THE SAINTS AND MARTYRS

Winchester, VA – The Druz was an Islamic sect whose members in the 1860’s were making their way through Lebanon, slaughtering Christians for refusal to convert to Islam. They had already killed thousands of Maronite Christians in southern Lebanon when they made their way to Damascus and killed another two thousand. Included among the martyrs of Damascus was Father Emmanuel Ruiz, the superior of the Franciscan convent, who was told to convert to Islam or die. He was cut into pieces on the altar. Beatified with him were seven more Franciscan friars, and three Maronite laymen who chose not to flee the convent with the other laymen being sheltered at the convent and died for their Catholic faith. Martyrs of Damascus, pray for us!