Blessed Gentilis
Blessed Gentilis (born c. 1300 AD in Matelica, Marche, Italy; died September 5, 1340 AD in Tauris [present-day Tabriz], Persia [present-day Iran]) was an Italian Franciscan priest from Matelica in the Marche region who became a missionary to Persia (present-day Iran) and was martyred there for the Catholic faith. He is venerated as one of the Franciscan missionary martyrs of the East. His feast day is September 5.
Stored in Cargo: Blessed Gentilis
| Blessed Gentilis | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | September 05 |
| Profession | Italian Franciscan friar and priest; born Matelica Marche Italy; Franciscan missionary to Persia (Ilkhanate); martyred by beheading at Tabriz (Tauris) September 5 1340; one of the Franciscan martyrs of the East |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans, OFM); Franciscan missionary tradition; Marche Catholic heritage; 14th-century Franciscan East mission; Persia mission |
| Patronage | Matelica; Marche; Italy; missionaries to Islamic lands; Franciscan missionaries; those martyred in the East; September 5 feast |
| Attributes | Franciscan habit; palm branch of martyrdom; September 5 feast; Persian/Islamic setting; khanate Tabriz; beheading sword |
| Birthplace | Matelica, Marche, Italy |
| Death Place | Tabriz (Tauris), Persia (present-day Iran) |
| Cause of Death | Martyrdom; beheaded for the Catholic faith on September 5, 1340, in Tabriz (then called Tauris), Persia (present-day Iran); Blessed Gentile da Matelica (Gentilis of Matelica) was an Italian Franciscan friar who traveled from Italy to Persia as a Catholic missionary; he preached the Gospel in Persia under the Ilkhanate (the Mongol dynasty that ruled Persia); the Ilkhanate had initially been relatively tolerant of Christianity, but in the 14th century anti-Christian persecution increased; Gentilis was martyred — beheaded — for his missionary preaching on September 5, 1340; he is venerated among the Franciscan martyrs of the East |
| Primary Shrine | Matelica, Marche, Italy; September 5 feast; venerated in the Franciscan tradition |
| Liturgical Class | Not in universal Roman calendar; September 5 feast in Matelica and in the Franciscan Order (Franciscan Martyrology) |
| Historic Class | Not in 1962 calendar |
Biography
Gentile da Matelica (Blessed Gentilis) was born c. 1300 in Matelica, in the Marche region of central Italy. He entered the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans) and was ordained a priest.
He was sent on the Franciscan mission to Persia (the Ilkhanate, present-day Iran), where he preached the Catholic faith. He was captured, and on September 5, 1340, he was beheaded for the faith in Tabriz (then called Tauris), the Ilkhanate capital.
He is venerated among the Franciscan missionary martyrs of the East. His feast day is September 5.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Matelica, Marche, Italy
Death location: Tabriz (Tauris), Persia (present-day Iran)
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Feast day
September 5
Veneration
Blessed Gentilis (Gentile da Matelica, c. 1300–1340) was an Italian Franciscan friar from Matelica, Marche, who was martyred by beheading in Tabriz (Persia) on September 5, 1340, during his missionary work among the Mongol Ilkhanate; venerated in the Franciscan tradition. Feast September 5.
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