Godfried Coart
Godfried Coart was a Franciscan friar and one of the martyrs of Gorkum, born in Melveren in 1512. He is honored as the first canonized saint of Belgium. He was martyred on July 9, 1572, alongside other Franciscans, and is remembered for his forgiveness of his killers.
- Feast Day
- July 9
- Century
- 16th century
- Country Or Region
- Netherlands
Key Facts
- ›Godfried Coart was born in Melveren in 1512 and baptized in Holy Trinity Church.
- ›He studied at the Franciscan college at 's-Hertogenbosch and was ordained a priest.
- ›He served as sacristan and confessor at the Franciscan friary in Gorinchem.
- ›He was captured by Protestant rebels, the Watergeuzen, in 1572.
- ›He was martyred on July 9, 1572, in Rugge, and is honored with the other Martyrs of Gorcum.
- ›He is venerated as the first canonized saint of Belgium.
Godfried van Melveren
About Godfried Coart
Godfried Coart, also known as Godfried van Melveren, was a Belgian Franciscan friar and a prominent figure among the Martyrs of Gorkum. Born in Melveren in 1512, he received his early education at the Franciscan college in 's-Hertogenbosch before being ordained a priest. He served with great popularity as a sacristan and confessor at the Franciscan friary in Gorinchem, where he also engaged in artistic pursuits, printing and painting images of saints.
Life and Martyrdom
During the tumultuous period of the Dutch Revolt against Spanish rule, religious tensions escalated, particularly against Catholic clergy. In 1572, Gorinchem was seized by Protestant rebels, known as the Watergeuzen. Godfried Coart was among the eleven Franciscans captured by these rebels. Following their imprisonment, they were transferred to Brielle, where they were offered freedom in exchange for renouncing Catholic doctrines concerning the Eucharist and papal primacy. Despite a directive from the Prince of Orange to leave clergy unmolested, the captives were subjected to a mock trial.
On July 9, 1572, Godfried Coart and his companions were hanged in a turfshed at a destroyed monastery in Rugge. With the rope around his neck, Friar Godfried is said to have forgiven his executioners. Their bodies were mutilated and buried in a ditch until their translation to the Franciscan church in Brussels in 1616.
Veneration and Legacy
Godfried Coart and the other Martyrs of Gorcum were beatified in 1675 and later canonized in 1867. His feast day is celebrated on July 9. The site of their martyrdom in Brielle has become a place of pilgrimage. Devotion to Saint Godfried is evident in various locations, including a statue in St. Rumbold's Cathedral in Mechelen and a street renamed Sint-Godfriedstraat in Melveren. A chapel erected in his honor in Melveren was later relocated. In 1989, a chapel was installed near his birthplace in Keelstraat, where an annual open-air mass was celebrated. The Friars Minor Museum in Sint-Truiden holds a painting by Godfried. Following his martyrdom, the Coart family developed a deep reverence for him, leading to a tradition of naming the family father Godfried, ensuring his memory persisted through generations.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Godfried Coart?
Godfried Coart was a Franciscan friar from Melveren, born in 1512. He served as a priest and confessor in Gorinchem and is known as one of the Martyrs of Gorkum.
When and why was Godfried Coart martyred?
Godfried Coart was martyred on July 9, 1572, during the Dutch Revolt. He was captured by Protestant rebels and executed along with other clergy for his Catholic faith.
What is Godfried Coart's significance in Belgium?
Godfried Coart is honored as the first canonized saint of Belgium. His martyrdom and subsequent veneration have made him a significant figure in the country's religious history.
Where is Godfried Coart venerated?
Godfried Coart is venerated in the Catholic Church, particularly in Belgium and the Netherlands. His feast day is celebrated with the other Martyrs of Gorcum on July 9.
What is known about Godfried Coart's life before his martyrdom?
Before his martyrdom, Godfried Coart studied at the Franciscan college at 's-Hertogenbosch, was ordained a priest, and served in Gorinchem where he was popular. He also engaged in printing and painting saints' pictures.
Related Saints
Nicholas Pieck
Nicholas Pieck was a Franciscan friar and one of the Martyrs of Gorkum, a group of Catholic clergy executed in 1572 for refusing to renounce their faith. He is remembered for his staunch defense of Catholic dogma, particularly the Real Presence, and his martyrdom alongside his fellow friars.
Adrian van Hilvarenbeek
Adrian van Hilvarenbeek was one of the nineteen Catholic martyrs executed by Dutch Calvinists in 1572 during the Dutch Revolt. He is remembered as a member of the group known as the Martyrs of Gorkum, who are venerated for their steadfast faith. His martyrdom occurred during a period of intense religious conflict in the Netherlands.
John of Cologne
John of Cologne was a friar and priest of the Dominican Order who served as a parish priest in the Netherlands. He is remembered as one of the Martyrs of Gorkum, executed for his faith in 1572 and later declared a saint by the Catholic Church.