The Maronite church celebrates the feast day of the Massabki Brothers, Francis, Abdel Moati and Rapahel, on 10 July. These saints, together with all the other saintly figures of the Maronite Church, paint for us an interesting image of the varying paths to sanctity.
- St Charbel reveals the path of prayer and contemplation.
- St Rafqa shows us the way of mysticism and redemptive suffering.
- St Nehmatallah offers the example of teaching and leadership.
- Bl Estephan lived holiness through humble work.
- Bl Patriarch Estephan led through the path of governance.
And with the three Massabki Brothers, we see the ultimate witness: martyrdom that leads to sanctity.
In his mysterious providence, God has chosen to sanctify these great and holy people so that the Maronite Church now has role models to teach every single one of us, no matter where we are in life, how to reach sanctity.
So who are these martyrs, and what can we learn from them?
The Massabki brothers were from a noble Christian family in Damascus, known for their piety, generosity and Christian values. They were wealthy and well-known traders. Through their success, they became philanthropists, sharing what they could not just with Christians but also with the impoverished Druze and Muslims of Damascus.
This period in history was tumultuous, filled with persecution and violent rebellions. There was much political and religious tension for Maronites and other Christians in both Damascus and Mount Lebanon. This tension erupted into a number of riots and massacres across Mount Lebanon and Damascus.
On 9 July 1860, a fire broke out through the Christian area of Damascus. Many Maronite families took refuge in the Franciscan monastery, along with the Massabki brothers and the Superior, Fr Emmanuel.
While everyone took refuge on the roof, Francis, one of the Massabki brothers, remained kneeling at the foot of the icon of the Sorrowful Mother. The church was attacked. The superior was captured, and he told the attackers he would lead them to the treasure inside the church. He proceeded to the altar, where he lit candles and exposed the greatest treasure: the Eucharist. Fr Emmanuel was then executed.
The attackers noticed Francis kneeling in prayer and recognised him, as they had been assisted by him multiple times.
They told him that the sheikh had sent them to save him and his family from death, on the condition they deny their faith and convert. Francis answered, “Sheikh Abdullah can take my money; he can also take my life; but my faith no one can make me deny. I am a Christian, and in the faith of Christ, I will die.” Francis was executed.
The attackers confronted Abdel Moati in the convent yard and also asked him to renounce his faith to escape death. He refused and was also martyred. Raphael was offered the same as his brothers, but refused, and was also martyred.
Those of us called to walk the path of the Lord are called to be witnesses to the Lord in the world today. There is no greater witness, no greater act of evangelisation in the world today, no greater manner of living the Good News – the death, burial and Resurrection of the Lord – than to embody this in our lives.
The greatest witness we can live is to live as martyrs: to live our conviction of life eternal, even unto our last breath; offering all our suffering, enduring all trials as true disciples of the Lord; not growing weak in the face of suffering, but being strengthened through the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross and his promise of victory.
The great act of martyrdom offered by the Massabki Brothers gives witness to the Lord. They bore their suffering to the end, being true Evangelists in the world. They acknowledged Christ before others, refusing to deny him even under the threat of death.
Not speaking a word against the Son of Man, not apostatising, but holding firm to faith in Christ.
And for acknowledging Christ, they won the merit of being acknowledged before the angels of God, in the communion of saints, in the ranks of martyrs, those who came before us and laid the foundation for the church to grow through their spilt blood.
Let us learn from the Massabki Brothers how to give true witness, how to not just live like Christ, but to live Christ, selflessly and heroically, in our world today.