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OLD GOA: The Discalced Carmelites of Goa (Margao,Mapusa Xellim and Chicalim) along with the faithful  gathered at the ruins of the first foundation Monastery in Old Goa to celebrate the feast of the first  Carmelite Martyrs- Blessed Dionysius and Redemptus recently. Fr. Anthony D’souza OCD,Superior,Carmelite Monastery Margao, while delivering homily at the solemn Eucharistic celebration  appealed to the the congregation to  give heed to their Baptismal Call to be holy and give witness to Jesus  . He recalled the simple and dedicated life of  Blessed Dionysius and Redemtptus as a religious as well as their contribution as a conventual  to  the Monastery at Old Goa and invited to the faithful gathered to imbibe the virtues of these two heroes for Christ. “These two Carmelite friars are  model for us to strengthen our faith.” he opined further. Fr. Diogo Proença OCD, Superior, Avila Jyothi-Carmelite Seminary, Mapusa  presided over the Eucharistic celebration.

It is recalled that Blessed Redemptus has been a Portuguese soldier and has once captained garrison at Mylapore. He joined the Carmelites and obtained to be a non-clerical Carmelite brother through a profession of vows in 1635 at Old Goa.The other was Fr. Dennis, a   French sailor, an excellent seaman and a cartographer, one of whose chart of Indian ocean has been preserved in the British Museum till today. He needed the   permission of the Portuguese Viceroy to enter Carmel, because he had been promoted, though a Frenchman, to a position of major significance  in the Portuguese navy. He was admitted in the Novitiate  at Old Goa in 1635.

First Carmelite Martyrs

When the ambassador, Francis D’Souza was to leave for the East Indies, being requested by the government, his superiors allowed Fr. Dionysius to go along with the delegation sent by the viceroy to the sultan of Acheh in the East Indies. The erstwhile cartographer was accompanied by Br. Redemptus of the Cross. While the ambassador and his troupe were released, these two were enslaved for some time, and subjected to torture  before being martyred on 29 Nov. 1638. These first martyrs of  Teresian Carmel  were beatified by Leo XIII in 1900