Where's St. Ignatius of Antioch When You Need Him?

Yesterday was the feast of the great bishop/martyr of Antioch, St. Ignatius. Do you know him? Every Catholic should. When we intercede for our bishops, St. Ignatius must immediately come to mind. What if every one of our bishops embraced his example. What a difference we would see in the Catholic Church!

The Holy Martyrs of Compiègne of the French Revolution

Did the sacrifice of the Carmelite martyrs
 end the Reign of Terror?

Last night I finished reading The Song at the Scaffold, the novella by Gertrud von Le Fort which tells the story of the fourteen Carmelite martyrs of Compiègne during the French Revolution. I always wonder when I'm reading historical fiction how accurate the story is. Le Fort focuses on the youngest member of the congregation, a timid and fear-filled novice, the daughter of a skeptic who supported the ideals of the revolution.

[Spoiler alert!]

Are You Ready to be a Martyr? The Time is Near!

Several years ago as he suffered with terminal cancer, Cardinal Francis George of Chicago made this, now famous, statement:

I expect to die in bed, my successor will die in prison and his successor will die a martyr in the public square. His successor will pick up the shards of a ruined society and slowly help rebuild civilization, as the church has done so often in human history.[i]

Anyone with fingers on the pulse of American culture can hardly be surprised at a prince of the Church predicting impending persecution.

On the Feast of St. Justin Martyr -- Are You Prepared?

Things look pretty bleak these days, but on the bright side, bad times are great times for intense sanctity. That's why it's so important to be prepared to be a martyr. We've been privileged in this country. We've escaped most of the violence of countries where Christians die for the faith like China, Russia, the Sudan, Iraq etc.. But there's no guarantee that will continue.

So get in practice for martyrdom by being willing to speak the truth to the world in charity. Don't shrink from the challenge. Bishop Athanasius Schneider, like Maximilian Kolbe before him, urges us to use the instruments of social communications to spread the gospel:

Will We Face a Bloody Martyrdom Here in America?

"I am convinced that the persecution against Christians today is stronger than in the first centuries of the Church. Today there are more Christian martyrs than in that period. And, it's not because of fantasy, it's because of the numbers."   Pope Francis 

June 9th interview with Andre Tornielli for La Vanguardia

I think the pope's other oft-quoted statement from the same interview shows his own willingness to expose himself to possible martyrdom:

"I know that something could happen to me, but it's all in God's hands. I remember that in Brazil they had prepared a Popemobile closed with glass. But I cannot greet people and tell them that I love them from inside a sardine can, even if it is crystal. To me this is a wall. It is true that something can happen to me, but let's be realistic, at my age I don't have much to lose."

It's wonderful to have a pope who makes you laugh!

Let the Persecution Begin?

I agree with Michael Voris that the Church needs serious cleansing, but I can't be so quick to say, "Bring on the persecution." Michael isn't married and has no children. And when I think of the persecution sweeping up my grandchildren, I think of the 14-year-old martyr of Mexico, Blessed José Luis Sánchez del Río depicted in the film about the Cristeros, For Greater Glory. He was brutally tortured before he was ruthlessly murdered for refusing to deny Christ.

Whatever happens in the future, I pray that God gives strength to my children and their families. I wish I were like the mother of the seven sons in the Old Testament who told her boys to die courageously and watched their torture and execution, but I'm a coward who hopes I don't live to see my grandchildren suffer. I'm not like the saints who asked for martyrs' crowns. I don't have that much confidence that I'd hold out. And so I only pray that God gives me the grace to be faithful to the end. But please, Lord, spare me Mary's agony. I don't want to see my children and grandchildren suffer.

Have You Seen For Greater Glory?

Don't miss it!

Recap of Fr. Weslin's Arrest at Notre Dame: Fr. Weslin, Pray for Our Poor Country

Remember Fr. Weslin at Notre Dame? He founded the Lambs of Christ as victim souls for the unborn. And this, his last arrest, shows him as a victim not only of our secular culture of death, but the culture of death in the Church.

If his arrest doesn't bring tears to your eyes, you have no heart. Watching police handcuffing an 80-year-old priest behind his back is shocking.  But get ready, because this is a preview of the future. As you watch the video, consider the words of Cardinal Francis George in 2010 after the passage of civil union legislation in Illinois:

 "I expect to die in bed, my successor will die in prison and his successor will die a martyr in the public square."

Can't happen, you say? Look at the persecution of Christians around the world. Then look at the history of persecution of Catholics in the United States. The 18th and 19th centuries were so rife with attacks on Catholicism that the U.S. hierarchy embarked on a policy of accommodation, labeled "Americanism" and called a heresy by Pope Leo XIII. Americanism infects the Church to this day and can be seen in the speeches of Catholic politicians like John Kennedy and Mario Cuomo. It can be seen in the actions and words of clerics like Fr. Theodore Hesburgh, Fr. John Jenkins, and others. It has led inexorably to the rise of Catholic Judases like Ted Kennedy, Nancy Pelosi, Kathleen Sebelius, Joe Biden and others. 


Let us ask Fr. Weslin's intercession in the darkening days ahead for this country as religious persecution becomes more outward and more draconian. Raise your children to suffer and to pray and sacrifice for the enemies of the Church that they might be converted. All you Roman martyrs, pray for us. St. Edmund Campion and all the English martyrs, pray for us. May the martyrs of Compiegne and all the martyrs of the French Revolution pray for us. May the seven Visitandine martyrs and all the martyrs of the Spanish civil war pray for us. May Fr. Miguel Pro and all the martyrs of  the Mexican revolution pray for us. May all the martyrs throughout all the ages of history pray for us that we might be prepared for whatever comes and have the courage to endure it without abandoning the faith or hating our persecutors.


Our Lady, Queen of the martyrs, pray for us!

St. Stephen the Martyr: A Reminder that it's not all About the Feast

The Christmas season is filled with joy and celebration, but the Church in her wisdom also gives us a sober reminder. Today is the feast of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr. What is particularly interesting to me about its placement on the day after Christmas is the fact that St. Stephen suffered death as he experienced a vision of heaven, "the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God." (Acts 7:55)

So even as Stephen suffered a painful death by stoning, he was on the threshhold of the greatest party mankind will ever experience, the banquet of the Lamb. And it may very well have been Stephen's prayers and sacrifice that led to the conversion of St. Paul who "was consenting to his death." (Acts 7:59)

While we enjoy all the delights of the twelve days of Christmas, visiting with family and friends, reminiscing about Christmases past and looking forward to a new year with hope, let's remember the thorn upon the rose. This life will never be without suffering even in the midst of celebration. What a blessing if we all accept that suffering as Stephen did, particularly when it involves persecution, and call on Jesus saying, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge."

"Viva Cristo Rey!"

There are heroes of history who stood up for the faith when it meant their lives and their livelihood: faithful Catholics in Elizabeth's England, faithful Catholics in France during the Reign of Terror, Faithful Catholics in Spain during the Spanish Civil War, faithful Catholics in Mexico in the early 20th century when a secular government sought to destroy the Church. History is filled with everyday heroes who defended the faith at the cost of their lives. If it was illegal to be a Catholic in the United States, what would you do?
I look forward to seeing these two soon-to-be-released films. May God give us the courage to enter the spiritual battle under the banner of Christ the King. "Viva Cristo Rey!"

Lest we forget: Persecution and Martyrdom Continue in Iraq

The son of a friend of mine married a chaldean Catholic several years ago. Her parents emigrated from Iraq and she was brought up here in the U.S. There was a time when the Catholics in Iraq represented a significant minority. Persecution has caused many to flee, especially since we invaded the country. Ironically, the Catholics were better off under Saddam Hussein than they are now when Muslim terrorists roam and kill at will, and who cares? Read the story below and weep over the poignant ending where the little three year old boy keeps telling the marauding terrorists, "Enough!"

It is enough! Come, Lord Jesus. Our wicked world needs you.

Openers: Bishops stress U.S. 'moral responsibility' to Iraqi Christians


By John Norton - OSV Newsweekly, 11/28/2010

Last week our cover story focused on the plight of Christians in the Middle East, especially in Iraq in the wake of a brazen terrorist attack on a Catholic cathedral in Baghdad, which killed scores of believers (and two priests) as they were gathering for Sunday evening Mass.

It was an awful sacrilege — the slaughter, in the name of religion, of those gathered in a house of God for peaceful divine worship.

Our story also noted criticism of the Iraqi and U.S. governments by Catholics in both countries for their persistent failure to protect Iraq’s Christian minorities, who appear to be the target of a systematic campaign to simply drive them out of the country.
Read more....

St. Stephen's Day

Holy Mother Church in her wisdom follows the joyful celebration of the Messiah's birth with the feast of the first Christian martyr, St. Stephen, a deacon. Members of the synagogue challenged Stephen to a debate, but were unhappy with his arguments and accused him of blasphemy. They dragged him outside the city of Jerusalem to stone him to death. As they were murdering him, he had a vision of heaven with Jesus sitting at the right hand of God. As he died he imitated the Lord caying, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge."

The Church gives us this reminder that the Christian life is not just the joy of Christmas morning, but the challenge of suffering throughout the day. We rejoice over the salvation freely offered by the babe in the manger, but the reality is He calls us to "pick up your cross" and follow. Christianity is not a soft religion filled with a prosperity gospel that promises sweetness and light. It is the invitation to become soldiers for Christ, spreading the gospel, not by a physical sword, but the sword of prayer and sacrifice.

St. Stephen, help us to imitate your courage and widsom and your spirit of forgiveness of your enemies. May we be willing to lay down our lives for Jesus.

In the octave of Pentecost - Saints on Fire

I offer this little bouquet of saints who are best represented by the flower called the red hot poker (also called torch lily). They were literally "on fire" for God and for their neighbor. Share the stories of these saints with your children who in our culture of death may be called on to suffer for the faith. The inspiration of such courage can't help but invite imitation.

Blessed Miguel Pro - The Greatest Pro of Them All - He suffered death by "fire," the firing squad.

St. Joan of Arc who literally "burned" for the Lord.

St. Lawrence who was martyred by being cooked on a gridiron.

Martyrs of Rome - First Nero burned Rome, then he blamed the Christians and martyred many by covering them in pitch and using them to light his garden. (This article offers a unit study on the Roman era for home schoolers)

North American Martyrs - Saint John de Brebeuf and Saint Gabriel Lalemont were burned at the stake by the Mohawk indians after indesribable tortures including having scalding water poured over them and red-hot coals and hatchet heads placed on their heads and shoulders.

Blessed Thomas Tzugi was from the Japanese nobility. Educated by the Jesuits he became a priest and was burned at the stake in Japan about 1627 during a persecution of Christians. Ask his intercession for the unfaithful Jesuits of our day.

St. Edith Stein (Sr. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross died in the gas chambers of Auschwitz and was burned in the camp crematorium. This bride of Christ offered herself as a "sacrifice of atonement." Let us offer our daily sufferings with the same spirit.

Be a soldier for Christ! Remember the Church Militant doesn't need spiritual wimps, but spiritual warriors. If you haven't enlisted in Christ's army, if you're watching from the sidelines, respond to Gabriel's trumpet call and sign up. Our twelve star general (as Lambs of Christ priest Fr. Norman Weslin calls Our Blessed Mother) needs you! Put on the armor of God and hold your ground. (See Ephesians 6:13) We are promised the victory!