The Beatification of the Martyrs of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts, held this past weekend (Saturday, April 22nd) at the Church of Saint Sulpice in France, was attended by 26 Brazilians, including three priests and one brother of the Congregation who live in Brazil.

The ceremony was presided over by Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, sent by Pope Francis. In an exclusive interview with the Padre Eustáquio Channel, the Cardinal said that... “"Whenever we celebrate a cause of martyrdom, the invitation to bear witness to our faith becomes even stronger, and this is also a request from Pope Francis: that we be fruitful examples for our Church."”

Representing the Congregation in Brazil, the following participated in the celebration at the Church of Saint Sulpice: the Provincial of Brazil and the Paraguay region, Fr. Osvânio Mariano, SSCC; the Rector of the Sanctuary of Health and Peace in Belo Horizonte and Vice-Postulator of the Cause of Canonization of Fr. Eustáquio, Fr. Vinicius Maciel, SSCC; the Congregation's formator in Brazil, Fr. Edvaldo Carneiro, SSCC; and Brother Antoniel Silva, SSCC.

In addition to the religious figures, another 22 Brazilians, from Belo Horizonte and Patrocínio-MG, participated in the ceremony. More than a thousand people were present in the church, and thousands more watched via local TV channels. The Beatification was also broadcast on the Padre Eustáquio Channel (WATCH HERE).

The Beatification rite, always performed at the beginning of the Eucharistic Celebration, began when Cardinal Semeraro read the apostolic letter from Pope Francis, in which he decrees that the five priests – Fr. Henri Planchat (Vincentian), Fr. Ladislas Radigue, SSCC, Fr. Polycarpe Tuffier, SSCC, Fr. Jean-Marie Rouchouze, SSCC and Fr. Frézal Tardieu, SSCC – are beatified. In a passage from the letter, the Pope says: “"All gathered together in the testimony of faith, even unto the shedding of blood," may "in the future be called blessed.".

The five priests were executed by firing squad on May 26, 1871, during the "Bloody Week" of the Paris Commune, and died defending the Christian faith.