Thursday, May 28, 2009
Martyr's of our church
How amazing is a sacrafice of one's life for their faith in the Risen Lord? I cannot believe the sacrafice and stand in awe and prayer for our catholic forefathers who laid the foundation for the church today, with their own blood. Let us pray a rosary today for our blessed and beloved Catholic Martyrs.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I was just thinking about this today! Especially in regards to St. Paul. How different the world/ Bible/ Christianity would be if St. Paul had not have answered Jesus' call to conversion! It makes me reflect on my own life & faith - could I do what the early believers did? Something to think about...
ReplyDeleteAnyway - have a great weekend! I will be praying for you guys!
-Cheri
It sounds really weird I suppose, but I think it would be amazing to be able to give your life for your faith! I know that if the 'opportunity' arose...I'd jump!
ReplyDeleteYou know that St. Ignatius had a ardent desire for martyrdom. You can find that written throughout his seven epistles, and St. Justin the Martyr-Philosopher born to a Roman family, saw it this way when he was martyred under the Roman rule of Marcus Aurelius 161-180 AD. He said this before the prefect at the time of his percecution "It is our hearts desire to be martyred for our Lord Jesus Christ and then to be happy forever" He was later heheaded. The prefects and emperors sometimes begged the early Christians to renounce Jesus and pay homage to the gods, but they almost never did. St. Polycarp a very old man and Bishop of Smyrna was the first account of martyrdom that has been preserved in a letter address to the church of the Smyrna from the Church of Philomelium in 156 said this as roman emperor Antoninus Pius begged him to repent and curse Christ. "Curse Christ! "Eight and Six years have I served Him and He never did me wrong; and how can I now blaspheme my King who has saved me?" My favorite is St. Perpectua who was martyred. Her father (who was a pagan) begged her to renounce God and save herself for him and her family, she had a child. She said to him "In this trial what God determines will take place, We are not in our own keeping, but God's." She was fed to the lions who only injured her greatly, when the roman gladiator who was young and scared came up to kill her off, he couldn't keep a straight sword, so St. Perpetua guided his sword into her throat for him..amazing huh? Her feast day is March 6th. So no Morgan, it is not wierd at all. These Christians considered it an honor to die for their Lord, so must we. I know I do.
ReplyDeleteThanks Cheri!! God Bless you Zach, Issac and Aiden!
ReplyDelete