Last year, 22 Catholic missionaries were killed by violent deaths as they served the church. This number included 13 priests, 1 religious brother, 2 religious sisters, and 6 lay persons. Half of these deaths took place in Africa. Nigeria accounted for 4 of the priests murdered. Part of the country is terrorized by gangs of lawless bandits who have free reign. South Sudan counted 2 religious women and one lay man. Not counted in the report were 16 catechists and pastoral workers who a local bishop said were “targeted and killed for having spoken the truth with works of peace.”
In the Americas, there were 4 missionaries murdered in Mexico and one each in Haiti, Peru, and Venezuela. In Asia, a Filipino priest was shot on the island of Mindanao and two laymen murdered in Myanmar. Again the report did not include the 35+ Catholics massacred on Christmas eve by army forces in Myanmar. Fides News Agency, an official reporting agency of the Vatican issued the annual report but went on to say it is not possible to know or verify all. Others, whose names will never be known, from every corner of the planet, will suffer and die for their faith in Jesus Christ.
Sometimes people think that martyrs were people who died for their faith a long time ago. Yet, the truth is that it happens every year. Tertullian, a 2nd century Church Father, said, “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” Persecution is often a sign that the Spirit is at work in the church and the faith is growing. Courage, truth, and kindness (not vengeance, violence, and force) come from the Holy Spirit and those who act with such virtue give witness to the faith and to Christ himself. There was a time in our history when people longed to die as martyrs. This witness to Christ is certainly noble, but unfortunately, some were looking for a little of the glory for themselves. The important thing is not how we die, but how we live. This will give true glory to God. Sharing the “Gospel” with humility, understanding, patience and love can be as great a challenge as martyrdom. Each of us must give witness to Christ. Some may be called to do so by their deaths. All will be called to do so by their lives.
Father Jeff