Simeon-Marie Cardon and 5 companions

The group of martyrs of Casamari consists of six religious with very diverse backgrounds and geographical origins, united by the Cistercian monastic life:

1. Siméon-Marie Cardon (born Ignace-Alexandre-Joseph Cardon): Born on March 13, 1759, in Cambrai (France), he entered the Benedictine abbey of Saint-Faron de Meaux in 1782 and was ordained a priest in Paris in 1787. After taking the constitutional oath during the French Revolution and going through a period of spiritual wandering, he experienced a profound conversion and fled to Italy in 1795. He found refuge at the abbey of Casamari, where he donned the Cistercian habit and pronounced his vows of stability. He was appointed bursar, then claustral prior.

2. Domenico Maria Zawrel (born Jan Chrysostom Zavřel): Born in 1725 in Chodov, near Prague (present-day Czech Republic), he was initially a Dominican religious in Prague. He arrived at Casamari in May 1776, began his Cistercian novitiate there, and pronounced his solemn vows in 1777. Recognized for his wisdom, he served as master of novices.

3. Albertino Maria Maisonade (born Albertin-Marie Maisonade): Born in the 18th century in Bordeaux (France), he was a professed cleric within the Cistercian community of Casamari.

4. Modesto Maria Burgen (born Modeste-Marie Burgen or Bougue): Born in the 18th century in Burgundy (Marne, France), he was a lay brother (professed religious) at Casamari.

5. Maturino Maria Pitri (born Maturin-Marie Pitri): Born in the 18th century in Fontainebleau (France), he was forcibly conscripted into the French army. Having fallen seriously ill in January 1799, he was treated at the hospital in Veroli. Confessing to Father Siméon-Marie Cardon, he promised to enter the monastery if he recovered. Once recovered, he was welcomed at Casamari as an oblate.

6. Zosimo Maria Brambat (born Zosimo Brambat): Born in the 18th century in Milan (Italy), he requested to be received at Casamari at the end of 1792. Admitted to the novitiate in 1794, he made his simple profession as a lay brother on November 20, 1795.

The martyrdom of the six religious took place between May 13 and 16, 1799. On the evening of May 13, around 8 p.m., as the community was preparing to chant the office of Compline, about twenty French soldiers forced their way into the abbey. The prior, Father Siméon-Marie Cardon, welcomed them kindly and had food and drink distributed to them. However, quickly intoxicated and dissatisfied, the soldiers began to ransack the monastery in search of valuables.

The soldiers entered the abbey church, broke the tabernacle, and threw the consecrated hosts to the ground. Faced with this sacrilege, the monks who remained on site intervened courageously to gather the sacred species and prevent further profanations.

The violence of the soldiers then unleashed itself with sabers, bayonets, and rifles: - Father Domenico Maria Zawrel picked up the profaned hosts twice and withdrew to pray in the infirmary chapel. He was assaulted there and killed with saber blows. - Brother Albertino Maria Maisonade was massacred beside him in the same chapel while he was in prayer. - Brother Modesto Maria Burgen and Brother Maturino Maria Pitri were mortally wounded in the corridors of the abbey. Brother Maturino managed to drag himself to his cell before passing away. - The prior, Father Siméon-Marie Cardon, who had initially hidden in the garden, chose to return to the monastery in solidarity with his brothers. Confronted by the soldiers who demanded money, he was savagely struck on the head and hands. He survived his wounds during the night and died the following morning, May 14, 1799, around 7 a.m. - Brother Zosimo Maria Brambat was seriously wounded by a gunshot and saber blows. He managed to hide and survived for three days. He died on May 16, 1799, near the abbey walls, while attempting to reach the nearby town of Boville Ernica to receive the anointing of the sick.

The reputation for holiness and martyrdom of the six monks of Casamari was established immediately after the tragedy. A few days after the departure of the French troops, the bodies of the religious were recovered by the surviving brothers and buried in the monastery cemetery. In 1951, their mortal remains were solemnly transferred inside the abbey church of Casamari, under the altar of the right nave, where they are still venerated.

The cause for beatification was officially introduced on June 27, 2013, at the request of the Postulator General of the Cistercian Order, Father Pierdomenico Volpi, to the Bishop of Frosinone-Veroli-Ferentino, Msgr. Ambrogio Spreafico. The diocesan process took place from December 6, 2014, to February 25, 2016.

On May 26, 2020, Pope Francis authorized the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to promulgate the decree recognizing the martyrdom of the six religious, killed in hatred of the faith (in odium fidei).

The beatification ceremony was celebrated on April 17, 2021, in the basilica of the Abbey of Casamari. The solemn mass was presided over by Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, representing the Sovereign Pontiff.

Their liturgical memorial is set for May 16, the anniversary of the death of Brother Zosimo Maria Brambat, the last survivor of the group.

The blessed martyrs of Casamari are commonly called the "martyrs of the Eucharist." Their spirituality is deeply marked by the love of the real presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, for the defense of which they shed their blood.

During their beatification, Cardinal Marcello Semeraro highlighted the deeply human and accessible dimension of their testimony. Far from being "comic book heroes" or intrepid warriors, they were ordinary men, inhabited by fear and fragility in the face of violence. Some of them had initially sought to flee or hide before finding, through divine grace, the strength to return and offer their lives.

Their sacrifice also remains a strong symbol of reconciliation and forgiveness. Father Siméon-Marie Cardon, of French nationality, died under the blows of his own compatriots while granting them his forgiveness, thus illustrating the victory of Christian charity over political and national divisions.