AGATANGELO DA VENDÔME E CASSIANO DA NANTES, BEATI

AGATHANGELO of Vendôme and CASSIAN of Nantes, Blessed. — The first was born on 31 July 1598 in Vendôme, the second on 15 January 1607 in Nantes. Both were martyred at Gondar (Abyssinia) on 7 August 1638 and beatified by Pius X on 23 October 1904. A. entered the Order of Capuchins in 1619, C. in 1622. The desire for missions inflamed their souls, so that already by 1628 we find A. enrolled in the missions of the East, entrusted to Father Giuseppe da Parigi; but it was only in 1633 that our two martyrs are found together in the missions of Egypt. On 18 November 1636 the mission to Ethiopia was entrusted to the Reformed Franciscans and the Capuchins. A. was placed in charge of five other companions. For reasons of prudence the expedition was divided into groups of two each. A. and C. left Cairo on 23 December 1637, and, disguised, reached as far as Serawa, where they were discovered, after terrible sufferings, taken to Gondar and stoned to death. Their feast is celebrated on 7 August.