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Franciscan Martyrs of Thane Remembered in Sion, Mumbai

Sion, Mumbai, April 9: There was a special Mass in honour of Franciscan Friars in the Middle Ages Peter of Siena, Thomas of Tolentino, James of Padua and others on 9th of April at 7.00 pm in Our Lady of Good Counsel Church and Shrine of St. Anthony. The Eucharist was presided over Br. Francis Xavier and concelebrated by Br. Basil Lobo, the Parish Priest and Brs. Julius A and Salvador, the Assistant Parish Priests.

Even before the Portuguese missionaries brought the Christian faith to Thane around the middle of the 16th century, Thane had already acquired a place in the history of the Church in India. On March 9, 1321, four Franciscan friars suffered martyrdom in Thane.

Thomas of Tolentino (Italian: Tommaso di or da Tolentino; c.1255 – 8 April 1321) was a medieval Franciscan missionary who was martyred with his three companions in Thane, India, His relics were removed to Quanzhou, China, and Tolentino, Italy, by Odoric of Pordenone. He is now venerated as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church, with his feast day on April 9.

Blessed Peter of Siena (died 1321) was a 14th-century Franciscan missionary and martyr. He is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church as one of the Four Martyrs of Thane, on April 9.

Blessed James of Padua (died 1321) was a 14th-century Franciscan missionary. He was beheaded alongside Thomas of Tolentino, Peter of Siena and Demetrius of Tiflis at Thane.

Demetrius of Tiflis or Demetrio da Tifliz was a 14th-century Christian layman and martyr from Georgia or Armenia. He is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church as one of the Four Martyrs of Thane, on April 9.

The Eucharist was attended by the parishioners of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church.

 

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