Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,Today, as we gather to reflect on the lives and sacrifices of Saints Berard and his companions, we find ourselves standing before the noble legacy of martyrdom within our Franciscan tradition. These first brothers of Saint Francis—Berard, Peter, Accursio, Adyuto, and Otón—embarked on a journey of faith that would lead them to a profound expression of love for Christ, culminating in their ultimate sacrifice in Morocco.