After talking about evangelization and talking about apostolic zeal, after considering the witness of Saint Paul, the true “champion” of apostolic zeal, today we will turn our attention not to a single figure, but to the host of martyrs,
Five years ago, Fr. Jacques Hamel was murdered while celebrating Mass. His martyrdom is not without meaning and can even bear unexpected hope.
“Dungeon, fire, and sword” to me were a poetic allusion to adversity. I never thought to ask: “Which dungeon? What fire? Whose sword?” Until I lived in England.
Certainly, there are contemporary martyrs who are killed for being Christian. But more and more, contemporary martyrs are being killed for living out their Christianity.
A reflection on the meaning and impact of Christian martyrdom; currently taking place in the Middle East and in many other parts of the world.