The North American Martyrs and bad sacristans ...

The eight Jesuit martyrs of North America were canonized in 1930.

Today is their feast day.

Meditation.

The Iroquois and Mohawks were extremely …. unhelpful to the Jesuits.  Talk about inhospitable and just plain mean sacristans.  They were among the most liturgically (etc.) ignorant of all carbon-based life forms ... also the most likely to share their witless and ill-informed opinions ...

What?

The Iroquois met Isaac Jogues near Lake George, 

stripped him naked, slashed him with their knives, 

beat him and then led him to the village. 

On 18 October, 1646, when entering a cabin he was 

struck with a tomahawk and afterwards decapitated.

 The head was fixed on the Palisades 

and the body thrown into the Mohawk.

- source

Maria Goretti, A Martyr for Purity

"Maria Goretti resembled St. Agnes in her characteristic virtue of Fortitude. This virtue of Fortitude is at the same time the safeguard as well as the fruit of virginity. Our new beata was strong and wise and fully aware of her dignity. That is why she professed death before sin. She was not twelve years of age when she shed her blood as a martyr, nevertheless what foresight, what energy she showed when aware of danger! She was on the watch day and night to defend her chastity, making use of all the means at her disposal, persevering in prayer and entrusting the lily of her purity to the special protection of Mary, the Virgin of virgins. Let us admire the fortitude of the pure of heart. It is a mysterious strength far above the limits of human nature and even above ordinary Christian virtue." - Beatification Homily Pius XII

St. Maria Goretti died defending her virginity.  So did the following young women.  So did St. Agnes and the many virgin martyrs in ancient times.   Pierina Morosini, lay woman, (+ Fiobbo di Albino, Bergamo, 1957), aged 26. She was attacked by a man who stoned her to death for refusing to comply with his evil desires. She was unconscious and died two days later in hospital. [4. October 1987]. Antonia Mesina, lay woman (+ Orgosolo, Nuoro 1935). At the age of 16, while gathering wood, she was killed by a prowler who tried to rape her. [4. October 1987).

Today marks the anniversary of the Beheading of Thomas Moore

July 6, 1535

"When he saw the doctrines of the Church were gravely endangered, he knew how to despise resolutely the flattery of human respect, how to resist, in accordance with his duty, the supreme head of the State when there was question of things commanded by God and the Church...It was for these motives that he was imprisoned, nor could the tears of his wife and children make him swerve from the path of truth and virtue. In that terrible hour of trial, he raised his eyes to heaven, and proved himself a bright example of Christian fortitude." - Pius XI

Thirty four years ago today ...

Archbishop Oscar Romero assassinated, March 24, 1980.

He was martyred during the holy sacrifice of the Mass, at the elevation of the Precious Blood.

St.s Perpetua and Felicity

Source

The Passion of Perpetua and Felicity and Companions is one of the most authentic and fascinating documentations of martyrs from the early Church on record.  The Passion narrative can be found here.

The martyrs were baptized while under "house arrest".  Both Perpetua and Felicity were mothers, Perpetua, a young woman from a respectable family entered prison with a baby in arms.  Felicity, a slave, entered prison and gave birth to her baby there - amidst mockery and contempt from her persecutors.  The martyrs died after entering the arena to be made sport of by wild beasts.  The two women embraced one another and bestowed upon one another the kiss of peace before succumbing to death.  It is one of the most moving accounts of martyrdom I have ever read - it seems to me there is nothing like it until the 20th century accounts of victims of the various holocausts and persecutions around the world.

Today the Holy Martyrs have been adopted by 'gay' religious people as models of 'gay' spirituality.  It is unfortunate and sad that the love expressed between these woman has been mischaracterized in such a base manner when in fact theirs was a chaste Christian love.  Heroic charity.  The charity of the Martyrs is unlimited however, and I trust SS. Perpetua and Felicity would help those who are misled by the revisionist hagiography to come to a deeper faith and acceptance of Church teaching.

Nothing is impossible for God, when you consider one glance from Christ can convert even the greatest sinners.  Saints such as Ignatius of Loyola have been converted by reading the lives of the saints.  Thus, some may read a fabrication, and upon deeper investigation in the process of devotion, some can discover the truth.

I've discussed the issue of 'gay' saints many times in the past, for the convenience of inquiring minds,  follow the link here.

O most brave and blessed martyrs! O truly called and chosen unto the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ! whom whoever magnifies, and honours, and adores, assuredly ought to read these examples for the edification of the Church, not less than the ancient ones, so that new virtues also may testify that one and the same Holy Spirit is always operating even until now, and God the Father Omnipotent, and His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, whose is the glory and infinite power for ever and ever. Amen.

Passion of St. John the Baptist

The defense of marriage cost St. John ...

John was chosen by God to prepare the way for Jesus, and he revealed him to the people of Israel as the Messiah, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (cf. Jn 1:29). John consecrated himself entirely to God and to his envoy, Jesus. But, in the end, what happened? He died for the sake of the truth, when he denounced the adultery of King Herod and Herodias. How many people pay dearly for their commitment to truth! Upright people who are not afraid to go against the current! How many just men prefer to go against the current, so as not to deny the voice of conscience, the voice of truth! And we, we must not be afraid! Among you are many young people. To you young people I say: Do not be afraid to go against the current, when they want to rob us of hope, when they propose rotten values, values like food gone bad — and when food has gone bad, it harms us; these values harm us. We must go against the current! - Pope Francis

St. Vincent: Hope for Michael Voris.

St. Vincent of Saragossa

When brought before the Roman governor and ordered to renounce their faith and worship idols, Vincent's bishop was the first to speak.  He defended himself so timidly that Vincent interrupted him, rebuked him for his weakness and proclaimed that "one must cry out against all tyranny leveled against God's ministers."  The narrative from this month's Magnificat indicates that Vincent loudly denounced the injustice perpetrated upon them and was therefore subjected to painful torture unto death.

He rebuked his bishop yet defended the office - God's ministers - at the same time.  Seems to me St. Vincent would be a good patron for Voris.

Did you know Vincent is the patron saint of wine as well?  Which can be a reminder for would-be apologists not to whine if you're planning to call out the bishops.


 

Priest executed by Mafia recognized a martyr.

Don Giuseppe Pino Puglisi, martyr.

Rome - A Sicilian priest who was murdered by the Mafia in 1993 was declared a martyr by Pope Benedict XVI, a step toward sainthood, the Vatican said in a statement on Thursday.

The pope authorised the Vatican's Congregation for the Causes of Saints to issue a decree naming Giuseppe Pino Puglisi a martyr, "killed in hatred of the faith in Palermo".

Puglisi, who was known as an outspoken opponent of organised crime, was gunned down in front of his home.

He had worked in Palermo's Mafia-controlled Brancaccio neighbourhood, trying to help youngsters stay away from the Mafia.

He publicly addressed the problem of organised crime and his murderer later declared that when he fired a bullet in the nape of his neck the priest said with a smile, "I expected this". - Source

Praise God!  Don Pino's death reminds us that martyrdom is truly possible for us in our day, in our modern cities, our neighborhoods, our front yards.  Ah!  To be worthy to die for Christ!  Pray for us Blessed Guiseppe Pino Puglisi, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ, with Our Lady and St. Jospeh, pray for us now and at the hour of our death. 

I think it was Bl. Charles De Foucauld who said, "Live each day as if you are to die a martyr's death tomorrow."  With a smile, Don Puglisi greeted his assassin, "I expected this."

Memorial of the Martyrs of Nagasaki

On Feb. 6, the Catholic Church honors the 26 Martyrs of Nagasaki, a group of native Japanese Catholics and foreign missionaries who suffered death for their faith in the year 1597. - Read more here.

See what can happen when Government seeks to restrict religious freedom?  Or rid itself of Catholics?

Saint Maria Goretti, virgin martyr

"The value of Christian virtue is so great, so overwhelming, so imperative, that it is worth more than life. Purity is not just a separate part of our being. It belongs to our existence as a whole, it is essential for our life. Purity brings us in harmony of body and soul." - Servant of God, Pope Paul VI

A martyr for purity at the beginning of the 20th century.  St. Maria Goretti is a lamp lighted for generations after her to find hope and help to follow Christ amidst a polluted world of impurity and hedonism.  For details on her life click here.
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Art:  Source.  For me the icon expresses the spiritual maturity, nobility and sobriety of the martyr-saint much better than most holy card images.

I think now we must be Catholics like this...

And we must pray God will send us priests like this.
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Jerzy Popiełuszko; September 14, 1947 – October 19, 1984) was a Roman Catholic priest from Poland, associated with the Solidarity union. He was murdered by three agents of the Polish communist internal intelligence agency, the Służba Bezpieczeństwa, (English: Security Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs) who were shortly thereafter tried and convicted of the murder. He has been recognized as a martyr by the Catholic Church, and was beatified on June 6, 2010.  - Wikipedia
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