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Martyrs of Toulouse

Martyrs of Toulouse Also known as

Martyrs of Avignonet

29 May

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A group of eleven Dominicans, Franciscans, Benedictines, clergy and lay brothers who worked with the Inquisition in southern France to oppose the Albigensian heresy. Basing their operations in a farmhouse outside Avignonet, France, he and his brother missioners worked against heresy. Murdered by Albigensian heretics while singing the Te Deum on the eve of Ascension. Each has a separate entry –

Adhemar

Bernard of Roquefort

Bernard of Toulouse

Fortanerio

Garcia d’Aure

Pietro d’Arnaud

Raymond Carbonius

Raymond di Cortisan

Stephen Saint-Thibery

William Arnaud

the prior of Avignonet whose name unfortunately has not come down to us

The church in which they died was placed under interdict as punishment to the locals for the offense. Shortly after the interdict was finally lifted, a large statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary was found on the door step of church. Neither the sculptor nor the patron was ever discovered, nor who delivered it or how. The people took it as a sign that they were forgiven, but that they should never forget, and should renew their devotion to Our Lady. They referred to the image as “Our Lady of Miracles”.

Until recently there was a ceremony in the church on the night of the 28th to 29th of May, the anniversary of the martyrdom. Called “The Ceremony of the Vow”, parishioners would gather in the church, kneel with lit candles, and process across the church on their knees, all the while praying for the souls of the heretics who had murdered the martyrs.