These Saintly martyrs were part of the attempt of the later 1800’s to mission the African continent.
At the situation would find them, they were attempting to instruct and convert the tribe of the King, Mtesa. Mtesa was a man addicted to “unnatural vice,” and surrounded by men threatened by the missioners. They piqued his fears of the religious. This was compounded by the unwillingness of the Christian boys to involve themselves in Mtesa’s sexual “wants.”
St. Joseph Mkasa was the first victim; railroaded by Mtesa, and beheaded on Nov fifteenth, AD 1885.
Mtesa found out the boys held for his “service” had been catechumenized and or baptized by Lwanga. St. Denis was run through the throat and died. Mtesa then set in motion the action of condemning the missionaries, and they and the boys being instructed were rounded up.
The place of death was Namugongo, 37 miles away. Three of the boys died on the march. The others were stripped, bound and wrapped in reeds. A pyre was constructed, all those present submitted to death rather than renounce Christ, and they were either burned alive, or beheaded on the Feast of the Ascension.
The dead include: Sts. Joseph Mkasa, Denis Sebuggwawo, Charles Lwanga, numerous children, Mbaga, Matthias Murumba, Andrew Kagwa, and seventeen other young royal servants.
These martyrs for the Faith died in AD 1886, were beatified in 1920, and canonized in 1964.
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