[Front depicts Padre Padilla's martyrdom at the hands of two natives]
Self Sacrifice of Padre Fray Juan de Padilla - 1544
[Back]
Built to the glorious and perpetual memory of
Father Fray Juan de Padilla, O.F.M.
Franciscan Missionary,
First martyr for Christianity in the
United States and in Texas
Accompanied the Coronado Expedition to Palo Duro Canyon.
Went with Francisco Vásquez de Coronado
and his chosen party
in search of La Gran Quivira.
Returned soon and began his zealous labors for the
civilizing and Christianizing
of the Wichita and other Indian nations
in the region of the Texas Panhandle
His martyrdom occurred in 1544
Erected jointly by the State of Texas
and the Texas Knights of Columbus
in 1936.