MASSABKI BROTHERS: Blessed Martyrs of the Maronite Catholic Church

The Massabki Brothers, composed of Four Brothers by the named of Francis, Abdel Mo'ti and Rouphael, have die for the cause of Faith during the 1860 strife between Christian and Muslim in Lebanon in Syria, after they have been killed in Damascus for not refusing to abandoned their Maronite Catholic faith. such account have been detailed, here below is Testimony about the Events that occurred:

"At nearly eleven o’clock, Superior Father Emmanuel closed the Monastery’s doors and called everyone to the church, where they prayed, made their Confessions to the priests, prayed for the intercession of the Blessed Mother, participated in the Procession of the Holy Eucharist, and proceeded to Holy Communion.

Then, all save Francis, who remained kneeling at the feet of the Sorrowful Mother, went up to the roof. Moments later, the aggressors infiltrated the convent through the roof and a secret door shown to them by Hassan Allaf, the house manager. The first person they caught was Father Superior Emmanuel, who told them, “Come, let me lead you to a treasure inside the church.” When he went up to the altar, he lit two candles, took out the Eucharist from the tabernacle to protect it from desecration, and said, “This is the treasure. I have nothing else.” He was killed instantly.

The aggressors saw Francis kneeling in prayer and recognized him, for he was a man of stature in the city. According to his nephew Nehmeh, who was twelve years old at the time and who hid and thus survived the massacre, the aggressors said to Francis, “Sheik Abdallah has sent us to save you from death; you, your brothers, your families, and all those who depend upon you for protection, on the condition that you deny your faith and convert to Islam.” Francis answered them, “Sheikh Abdallah can take my money, he can also take my life; but my faith no one can make me deny. I am a Christian and on the faith of Christ, I will die.” They replied, “We shall kill you then.” So Francis said, “I shall be with my Lord who told us ‘Do not fear thosewho kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul.’” He went on praying, but the men struck him down with their swords and hatchets. His blood poured forth and pieces of his flesh were scattered in the church.

The men caught Abdel Mooti in the convent yard next to the church door, insulted him, and asked him to convert to Islam in order to escape death. But he replied in a loud voice, “I’m a Christian. Kill me; kill me for I am ready to die.” So they killed him without hesitation and with the same savagery they used to kill his brother.

As for Raphael, who was hiding inside the convent, his fate was not any better when the men found him. When he refused to convert to Islam in order to escape death and remained prostrate in prayer, he was beheaded and trampled upon; the men went on to spill yet more blood.

According to witnesses, the three Massabki brothers were buried in the convent along with the eight martyr priests and others who had sought refuge there. Hence, the blood of Maronites was mingled with the blood of Franciscans, and thus the Eastern and Western witnesses of Christ embraced in martyrdom and yielded a memorable expression of sanctity that shall endure forever." 

Bechara Chemaly, “The Martyrdom of Francis Massabki and his brothers Abdel Mooti and Raphael, Part Two, pp. 51-63. Cf. Carlo Salotti, op. cit. pp. 23-28.

 

Prayer and Novena to the Blessed Martyrs Massabki Brothers

 

Oh Lord Jesus, You who have promised to glorify those who glorify You, and to acknowledge those who acknowledge You, look at us with Your merciful eyes, and answer the prayers we raise to You through your martyrs the Franciscan priests and the three brothers Francis, Abdel Mooti, and Raphael, who acknowledged You before everyone, glorified You before nations, and died courageously for You. Accept this prayer that we raise to Your greatness, for rapidly confirming their canonization if You mercifully allow it. Amen.

Oh Jesus Christ, the martyr of Mount Calvary who gave us on Your cross an example of true sacrifice, and who wished in every time and place to give us live examples of this sacrifice through Your chosen ones, give us what we request now through your blessed martyrs who spilled their blood for You. Amen.

Oh Christ the King who is revered, we beg you to give us, in this Eastern land that was made holy by You, a new example with Your martyrs, and to bestow upon us through both earthly and heavenly blessings, what we ask for through their intercession. Hence, Your name will be glorified and You will be proud of Your Church. Faith will be strengthened and the past days will return to this Eastern land, which will shine through the teachings of its glorified priests and the purity of its great saints just like it shone in the past with the blood You shed. Amen.

* Oh three Massabki martyrs
** Pray for us       

Oh Lord Jesus, Son of God, You who have promised to glorify those who glorify You, and to acknowledge those who acknowledge You, look at us with Your merciful eyes, and answer the prayers we raise to You through your martyrs the Franciscan priests and the three brothers Francis, Abdel Mooti, and Raphael, who acknowledged You before everyone, glorified You before nations, and died courageously for You.
Accept this prayer that we raise to Your greatness, for rapidly confirming their sanctity if You mercifully allow it, and bestow upon us the necessary blessings, especially (name of requested blessing). May glory be upon You. Amen. 

 

 

 

 

For more information about these Blessed Martyrs of the Maronite Catholic Church, please go to the Official Site on their Cause for Sainthood, you can also read here the Spirituality of the Martyr Blesseds, and the Account of their Martyrdom, their Personal Biography. the Testimony for their cause of Canonization. They are proclaimed Blessed in a Beatification ceremony in 1926 by His Holiness Pope Pius XI