Today is January 16. If you're looking at the liturgical calendar, you’ll see it's the Roman Catholic feast day today for St. Berard and his four companions. Most people haven't heard of them. They aren't the "celebrity" saints like Francis of Assisi or Thérèse of Lisieux. But honestly? Their story is gritty. It’s a messy, intense account of five guys who went to Morocco in 1220 and basically changed the entire trajectory of the Franciscan Order.
St. Berard, Peter, Adjute, Accursio, and Otto. They weren't just names on a page. They were the first Franciscan martyrs. Before them, the movement was mostly about poverty and preaching in Italian town squares. After them, everything shifted. Even St. Anthony of Padua—arguably one of the most famous saints in history—only became a Franciscan because he saw the bodies of these five men being brought back from Morocco. He was so moved by their sacrifice that he ditched his old order to join the "new" friars.
The Reality of the Roman Catholic Feast Day Today
It’s easy to look at a calendar and see a name, then move on. But these men were sent by Francis himself. At the time, the Crusades were raging. Violence was the standard language of the era. Francis, however, had this wild idea: what if we just talked to people? He sent Berard and the others to preach to the Moors.
They didn't speak the language well. They didn't really understand the political landmines they were stepping on. In Seville, they started preaching in the streets. They got arrested. They got beaten. The local authorities actually tried to be lenient at first, basically telling them to just go home. They didn't. They pushed on to Morocco.
It wasn't a "glorious" mission in the way modern movies portray it. It was brutal. The Sultan, Miramolin, tried to bribe them with wealth and women to get them to stop preaching. They refused. Eventually, the Sultan grew so frustrated by their persistence that he executed them personally. He used a scimitar.
Why Martyrs Matter in 2026
You might think, "Why do we celebrate this in 2026?" It feels archaic. But the Roman Catholic feast day today isn't about glorifying the violence. It's about the psychological shift of the early Church.
For the Franciscans, Berard and his buddies proved that their "Way of Life" wasn't just a lifestyle choice for the wealthy who wanted to feel holy. It was a commitment that went all the way to the edge. When Francis heard about their deaths, he famously said, "Now I can truly say I have five Friars Minor." That’s a heavy statement. It suggests that until you’re willing to lose everything, you haven't fully lived the calling.
We live in a culture that prioritizes comfort above almost everything else. We want things fast, easy, and painless. The story of Berard is the literal opposite of that. It’s a reminder that some things—faith, conviction, truth—are worth more than a long, comfortable life.
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The Logistics of the January 16 Feast
In the modern Church, January 16 serves as an "Optional Memorial" in some places and a standard feast day in Franciscan communities. If you go to Mass today, you might not hear a long sermon about them. In the General Roman Calendar, it’s a weekday in Ordinary Time. But for those tapped into the Franciscan tradition, it’s a major pivot point.
Here is what the liturgical focus usually looks like for this specific day:
- Red Vestments: If the priest chooses to celebrate the votive Mass of the martyrs, he wears red. Red for blood. Red for passion.
- The Readings: Often focus on the "Grain of Wheat" passage from the Gospel of John. Unless a seed falls and dies, it remains alone.
- The Franciscan Breviary: Contains specific prayers and hymns dedicated to the "Protomartyrs" (the first martyrs) of the order.
There's a specific nuance to how the Church views these men. They aren't honored for being "successful" missionaries. They didn't convert thousands of people in Morocco. By almost every modern metric of "success," they failed. They went, they preached, they got killed. But in the spiritual economy of the Church, that failure was a massive victory because of the influence it had on others—like Anthony of Padua.
The Connection to St. Anthony
You can’t talk about the Roman Catholic feast day today without talking about the "Anthony Effect."
Anthony was an Augustinian monk in Coimbra, Portugal. He saw the remains of Berard and his companions when they were brought to the Monastery of Santa Cruz. He was floored. He saw their broken bodies and thought, "I want that kind of courage." He left his comfortable life as a scholar to become a simple friar, hoping he too would be sent to Morocco. He never made it to the mission field in that way—he got sick and ended up in Italy—but he became the greatest preacher of his generation.
This happens a lot in history. One person’s "failure" becomes the spark for another person’s greatness. If Berard hadn't died in a Moroccan prison, Anthony might have stayed in a library in Portugal. The world would never have known the "Hammer of Heretics."
Misconceptions About the Franciscan Mission
A lot of people think Francis of Assisi was just a "nature guy" who liked birds. They think his followers were just hippies in sandals. That’s a huge misunderstanding. The early Franciscans were radical. They were disruptors.
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When you look at the Roman Catholic feast day today, you’re looking at the radical side of the movement. They weren't trying to be "tolerant" in the modern sense. They were trying to proclaim what they believed was a life-saving truth in a place that didn't want to hear it. It was dangerous, messy, and controversial.
Critics today might say they were being culturally insensitive or asking for trouble. And from a secular historical lens, maybe they were. But from their perspective, they were following a direct command to go to the ends of the earth. They believed that the soul mattered more than the body. You don't have to agree with their theology to respect the sheer guts it took to do what they did.
Historical Context of 13th Century Missions
To understand Berard, you have to understand the Fifth Crusade. It was happening at the exact same time. While kings and knights were trying to take territory with swords, the friars were trying to win hearts with words.
It was a clash of ideologies:
- The Crusaders: Power through military might.
- The Friars: Power through vulnerability and sacrifice.
The friars' approach was revolutionary. They didn't have armor. They didn't have weapons. They had a rule of life and a message. The fact that the Roman Catholic feast day today honors them shows that the Church, at its core, values the sacrifice of the peaceful witness over the conquest of the soldier.
How to Observe This Feast Day Today
If you’re the type of person who likes to live out these traditions, you don’t have to go to Morocco and start an argument. There are more practical ways to reflect on the lives of Berard and his companions.
First, look at your own convictions. Is there anything you believe in so strongly that you’d be willing to face total rejection for it? Most of us are afraid of a "mean" comment on social media. These guys faced a Sultan’s blade. It puts things in perspective.
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Second, read the actual accounts. The Chronicle of the Twenty-Four Generals is a primary source for Franciscan history. It’s old, and the language is dated, but the stories are vivid. It describes the Sultan’s attempts to save them from their own zeal, which adds a layer of complexity to the story. It wasn't just a "bad guys vs. good guys" narrative. It was a clash of two very different worldviews.
Third, consider the value of "unsuccessful" work. We are obsessed with results. Berard didn't have any. He died "empty-handed." Yet, 800 years later, we are still talking about him. Sometimes the most important work you do is the work that prepares the ground for someone else who will come after you.
Practical Steps for Reflection
If you want to integrate the themes of the Roman Catholic feast day today into your life, start here:
- Read the Franciscan Rule of 1221. Specifically, look at Chapter 16. It’s the first time a religious order included a specific section on how to live among "Saracens and other infidels." It emphasizes living peacefully and not starting quarrels, but also not hiding who you are.
- Evaluate your "Morocco." Everyone has a place or a situation they are afraid of—a conversation they’re avoiding or a stand they’re afraid to take. Ask yourself why.
- Visit a Franciscan church. If there’s one near you, go. Look at the art. Often, these martyrs are depicted in the windows or side altars.
- Practice "Bold Silence." Sometimes the bravest thing isn't shouting; it’s standing your ground when everyone wants you to move.
The story of Berard and his companions isn't a fairy tale. It’s a blood-soaked, difficult piece of history that forced the Franciscan order to grow up. It took them from a local Italian movement to a global force. It taught them that the cross isn't just a symbol you wear—it’s something you carry.
When you see the date January 16, remember the five men who didn't know when to quit. They weren't perfect, and they definitely weren't "safe." But they were real. And in a world of curated, safe, and filtered lives, that’s something worth thinking about.
Take a moment today to acknowledge the weight of conviction. Whether you are religious or not, the human capacity to die for a belief is one of the most powerful forces in history. It shaped the world we live in today. It gave us the concept of conscience. It gave us the courage to speak truth to power. That’s the real legacy of the Roman Catholic feast day today. It’s not just about the past; it’s a challenge for the present.
The next time you feel like staying quiet because it's easier, think of Berard. The next time you feel like a failure because you didn't get "results," think of the five friars whose deaths changed the life of St. Anthony. Success is rarely what it looks like on the surface.
To dive deeper into this specific period of history, you might want to look into the writings of Lawrence Cunningham or Fr. Augustine Thompson, O.P., who provide incredible historical context on the early mendicant orders. They strip away the "holy card" fluff and give you the real, gritty history of the 13th century. It’s far more interesting than the simplified versions we often hear.