History tells us that in July of the year 64, Italy’s city of Rome burned. The fire destroyed two-thirds of the city and the Emperor Nero blamed the Christians. He had them arrested, interrogated, and murdered. These Christians were the first martyrs of the Holy Roman Church.
“Martyrdom is the supreme witness given to the truth of the faith: it means bearing witness even unto death” [CCC 2473]. The history of the Church is filled with martyrs. To this day, there are those in the world who have died for their faith—for their love of the Lord.
Is our faith as strong as the martyrs of the Church? Or do we prefer that our faith not take us beyond our comfort zone? Comfortable or not, we may find ourselves in challenging situations as pressures—economic, cultural, political—bear down on religious beliefs.
Do we have the fortitude to stand up for those beliefs? “Fortitude is the moral virtue that ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good. It strengthens the resolve to resist temptations and to overcome obstacles in the moral life” [CCC 1808].
Live by the Spirit
We won’t find the fortitude and courage we need by staying in our comfort zone; we will find them in the Spirit of the Lord. Remember: Fortitude is among the gifts of the Spirit [CCC 1831]. “For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control” [2 Timothy 1:7].
Through the Spirit our Lord gives the grace to share his own life and love, according to Pope St. John Paul II. He provides the strength to bear witness to that love in personal choices and actions. The martyrs of the Church had that strength. What they endured teaches us how to live by the Lord’s Spirit no matter what life throws at us.
As Christ said: “As I have loved you, so you also should love another” [John 13:34], including those who persecute us. Through the Holy Spirit God pours his love into our hearts enabling us to imitate Jesus in our daily living. This love strengthens our faith.
However, in the midst of pressures and confusion, it may seem easier to compromise our beliefs and go with the flow. Otherwise we may face ridicule for living in the Spirit of our Lord. Are we not seeing this today?
The Love of God
As faith in God declines, opposition to God is more visible. Many believe they and the world can do without God and his grace. However, not believing in God is not believing God is the world’s infinite source of love.
God is love made manifest in Jesus Christ. To believe in God is to believe the love we have in our hearts is a reflection of our Lord’s love. Therefore, the genuineness of our faith and especially our love will be tested by our concern for others. How will we fare in today’s world?
Let us find inspiration in the martyrs of the Church. With God’s grace and strength, the faith-filled martyrs burned with this divine love, sharing the Lord’s light and life in this world. May we choose to be faithful witnesses each day and persevere for the love of God. In God we find hope; we find the freedom of good. Amen.
3 thoughts on “Martyrs of the Church”
Jim Caveizel was in “Paul the Apostle”; quite a look at the early martyrs in Rome and that fire.
I have done volunteer work in a nursing home for the Little Sisters of the Poor. Quite nice to see an article by someone connected to their fine work.
Pingback: VVEDNESDAY MORNING EDITION – Big Pulpit
Carol, Many thanks for this inspirational writing. Almost all of us will never have our heads lopped off by pagans because we say publicly, “Jesus is (the only) Lord;” or be hung, drawn and quartered by those like the minions of Elizabeth Barbaric because we cling to the one true church. But we can try to witness, everyday, by doing a simple act of selfless love directed to another person. I think all those little daily “martyrdoms” might add up and help us when Jesus says He’s going to judge us for our works. And think of all the true martyrs who are unknown to us, but so well known to God our Papa. Carol, keep up the good works/writings. Guy, Texas