During his almost 27-year term as the leader of our Church, Pope John Paul II beatified over 1,300 people and canonized over 475 saints.  This was more than the combined total for the preceding five centuries.

Pope Benedict XVI has actively followed his example.  He has already presided over several canonization ceremonies in his pontificate and he has revived an old custom of allowing other Vatican officials to officiate at beatification ceremonies.

 

Four hundred ninety eight martyrs who poured out their blood for the faith during the religious persecution of the Spanish Civil War in the 1930’s were beatified on October 28, 2007.  These martyrs ranged in age from 16 to 78 and included lay people, priests, bishops, and other religious men and women.

 

Cardinal José Saraiva Martins was the principal celebrant of this beatification ceremony.  In his homily at the Mass celebrating the beatification of these martyrs, he spoke these words about them, “Until their martyrdom, this large group of Blesseds expressed their love for Jesus Christ, their fidelity to the Catholic Church, and their intercession with God for the whole world.

 

Following Jesus, Even in Suffering

Before dying, they forgave those who persecuted them—and even prayed for them…  The Catechism of the Catholic Church affirms—‘Martyrdom is the supreme witness given to the truth of the faith.’  Indeed, following Jesus also means following him in suffering and accepting persecution for love of the Gospel.  Christ anticipated that our lives would be bound to his own destiny.”

 

Cardinal Martins went on to ask the thousands in attendance that day, “What message do the martyrs offer to each one of us present here?”

 

He gave this answer to his own question, “We are living in an age when the true identity of Christians is constantly threatened.  This means either that they are martyrs, that is to say, they adhere consistently to their baptismal faith, or that they are obliged to make compromises.  

 

Since Christian life is a daily personal confession of faith in the Son of God made man, this consistency may in some cases even require Christians to pour out their blood.”

 

 

Witnessing the Faith

I’m sure that many of these martyrs never thought that God would one day ask them to give up their lives for him.  I think they witnessed their faith in much the same way we as good Christians do today.  They lived good and holy lives, attended Mass, received the sacraments, helped the poor and disadvantaged, and in the case of the ordained religious, administered the sacraments to others.

 

Let us take some time during Lent to reflect on the sacrifice these martyrs made and how we can improve our lives as Christians this Lenten season through our own prayer, penance, and almsgiving.

 

Cardinal Martins spoke very eloquently to this when he said, “God created and redeemed us so that we might be saints!  We cannot be satisfied with a lukewarm Christian life.  Nor can Christian life be reduced merely to a few individuals and isolated acts of piety:  it must embrace every moment of our days on this earth.”