July 17 | The Carmelite Martyrs of Compiegne

Welcome, young history buffs and curious minds, to My Daily Saint, the podcast that digs deep into the incredible lives of the saints, those remarkable people who shaped history and continue to inspire us today. Forget dusty old portraits and boring stories. Today, imagine walking through the scorching, unforgiving heat of the Arizona wilderness in the late 1700s. There are no paved highways, no GPS, and no modern comforts. There is just you, miles of blazing red rock, towering green cacti, and the vast, dangerous unknown.

Suddenly, you reach the edge of a massive A breathtaking drop-off, the Grand Canyon. Standing right there at the edge of this natural wonder is a lone man wearing a simple, rough brown robe. He's thousands of miles away from his home in Europe, and he has braved treacherous trails, intense political drama, and the wild frontier for one single reason—to share a message of ultimate love and hope.

He is so well-loved by the locals that they don't even use his real name anymore. Instead, they call him by a nickname that translates simply to Living Jesus. This is the story of the spiritual pioneer of the Wild West, Francis Garces.

Let's rewind and set the scene. Francis Garces was born in the year 1738, across the Atlantic Ocean in Spain. As a young guy, Francis realized he wanted an adventurous life entirely dedicated to God. He joined the Franciscans, a religious order known for their brown robes and simple living, and he officially became an ordained priest in 1763.

But Francis' story wasn't destined to stay in the quiet, safe churches of Europe. Shortly after his ordination, he was handed a life-changing assignment. He was sent across the world to Mexico to evangelize the indigenous communities living there. When he arrived, the political situation was quite chaotic. The King of Spain had just forced another group of missionaries, the Jesuits, to pack up and leave Mexico entirely. Francis bravely stepped right into this messy gap. He began his demanding work at a community called Sans Javier del Bac, which is located near modern-day Tucson, Arizona.

This was incredibly tough work, but Francis hit the trail. He began traveling extensively all around the harsh, rugged region, making his way deep into Mexico and even venturing all the way to the Grand Canyon. The most amazing thing about Francis wasn't just his survival skills, it was his massive heart. He deeply loved the Native people he worked among, and they loved him right back. His work received tremendous blessings and bore incredible fruit, leading many of the indigenous people to convert to the faith.

While working with them, Francis taught the people a special phrase, viva Jesus, which means living Jesus or long live Jesus. The native community loved this saying so much, and they loved him so much, that they actually began to call him viva Jesus as his nickname. But like any great epic, this story takes a dark and intense turn. Back in those days, missionaries like Francis Often lived right alongside the Spanish settlers and soldiers. By the year 1781, heavy tensions in the region finally boiled over, and massive revolts broke out against the Spanish presence.

Even though Francis was a peaceful man, he was caught right in the crossfire of this violent conflict. During the revolts in 1781, Francis Garces and his companions were tragically killed. Because they lost their lives while living out their mission for God, the Church officially considers Francis and his companions to be martyrs, calling their group the Carmelite Martyrs of Compiègne.

Your challenge today is to be a Viva Jesus in your own life. How do you do that? Try bringing so much positivity and kindness to the people around you that they associate you with joy. Start small. Stand up for a classmate who is getting picked on. Offer a genuine compliment to someone who looks stressed, or be the person who brings peace to an angry group chat. Let Jesus live out loud. Thank you for joining us on My Daily Saint. We look forward to sharing another incredible story of faith and courage with you tomorrow.