An interview with a high school student about the Martyrs

A local high-school student, 11th grade I think, told me that she needed to do an interview for a school history project she was working on. The topic was the witness of the martyrs in the Church. We talked a bit about the subject and she subsequently sent me some questions. I happily put a few thoughts together about the martyrs and their witness in the history of the Church. Maybe you might find it interesting.

1. How did persecution strengthen Christianity?

First, it gave us a chance to give witness to the resurrection of Jesus. When Christians are willing to stand firm in the faith even when threatened with loss of life or property, or with going to jail, they show that their faith is for real, and that Christ is truly alive to give them strength. This example of courage gives strength to those who are weak in the faith, so their faith grows. Everyday Christians look to the example of the martyrs to give us courage to live our faith.

2. Have martyrs played a key role in sustaining our religion? If so how?

The martyrs have played a key role since the beginning of the Church. The martyrdom of St Stephen, for example, is already talked about in the Bible (Acts of the Apostles). His martyrdom was seen as an example of following the example of Jesus. Stephen was unjustly killed, yet he forgave his persecutors. This is the new way of life taught by Christ. Love overcomes hatred and persecution. The stories of the early martyrs were told and written down as a way of showing how the Lord gives us grace to follow his example. Today, when many Christians are persecuted around the world, their example gives courage and confirms the faith of the rest of us. Think of the example of José Sánchez del Río who was a 14 year old martyr during the persecution of the Church in Mexico, not that long ago. Today he is widely known and many young people are devoted to him.

Today we also see many Christians persecuted in many parts of the world. Many are dying in Africa and the Middle East because they will not deny their love and faith in Christ. Many non-Christians are also persecuted in the violent places of today's world. We must try to help those persecuted, and work to stop the violence. Because, even though the martyrs strengthen the Church, we are called to defend those who are persecuted, whether they are Christians or not.

3. Why have we been targeted for so long?

Christ came to break the power of evil, sin and death, all of which still have a strong hold in many hearts. Christ suffered death to overcome this darkness. He rose from the dead to open up for human beings a new hope in the power of love, goodness and life. Yet the Lord does not force people to follow his way of peace, forgiveness and mercy. So we will continue to encounter opposition from people who value power and control and violence. Christians will always need to be prepared to respond to hatred with mercy, and this means we must always be prepared ultimately to suffer so as to witness to Christ's teaching and to his love. But, there is something else going on here. A Christian is in this world, but we are called not to play its games of earthly power.

Our loyalty is to Christ first. He is our true King. Over the centuries we have lived to serve Christ and to serve people in need. Yet, we must refuse to obey earthly kings when they ask us to do something that is opposed to Christ's teaching. Historically, earthly kings and dictators do not usually tolerate people who obey God first. That is one of the main reasons why there have been persecutions of Christians at different times and places in world history.

4. How have we remained so strong?

Well, human beings are weak in many ways. And nobody likes suffering. So it is a sign of the power of God's grace to strengthen us that the Church remains alive and strong. In a sense, that the Church continues to live and grow is a sign that Christ has risen from the dead, and that his life flows through the Church. Of course, members of the Church are weak and can sin, even to the point of denying Christ. There is forgiveness for anyone who sincerely asks the Lord for it, though. There is a great mystery at work in this. St Paul was someone who persecuted the Church, and he even participated in the cruel martyrdom of St Stephen. Yet, after Stephen was killed, Paul was converted, received mercy and forgiveness and became a great apostle. Many sinners have been converted by the example and prayers of the martyrs.

5. Without martyrs would we be where we are today?

No, we would not. God does not will the suffering of the martyrs, but he does will that we live in the way of Christ, and sometimes that means loving our persecutors and being willing to suffer for our faith. It is part of the mystery of God's providence that people have lived by the grace of Christ's love in such a powerful way that they willingly gave their lives for him. This witness gives us strength. There is an old saying in the Church: "The blood of martyrs is the seed of Christians". Many come to faith because they see the power of God's love in the lives of the martyrs. It is this love we are called to witness. We thank God for the witness of the martyrs. And we pray God protect those who suffer persecution.

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Sobre las elecciones

Mis queridos hermanos y hermanas en el Señor, 

Las recientes elecciones han dado sus resultados y aquellos que han sido elegidos para servir en los diferentes puestos locales, estatales y federales han comenzado a prepararse para asumir sus responsabilidades. Oremos por todos los servidores públicos sin importar el partido político. Alcanzar el buen orden y un espíritu de cooperación es de interés para todos. Como pueblo, comenzamos el proceso de evaluar hacia dónde vamos desde aquí. Los cristianos servimos mejor al país cuando promovemos el bien común, cuando defendemos la justicia, la dignidad humana y los intereses de aquellos que son más vulnerables en la sociedad.

Sabemos, desde hace mucho tiempo, que ningún partido o plataforma política satisface la amplitud de la visión contenida en el Evangelio y en la Enseñanza de la Doctrina Social Católica que brota del mismo Evangelio. La Iglesia trabaja para apoyar lo que los gobiernos proponen si juzgamos que van de acuerdo con el bien humano y a la formación de una sociedad más justa. Trabajamos para rechazar vigorosamente los aspectos de una agenda política que perjudican al bien humano o fomentan la injusticia de cualquier tipo. Esto significa que en cualquier nivel, ya sea local, estatal o nacional defendemos y protegemos las familias, los niños y los no nacidos, los desempleados, los trabajadores pobres y los inmigrantes. La justicia sólo es posible cuando reconocemos que todos están incluidos en sus objetivos.

Ahora sabemos, mucho mejor que antes de las elecciones, cuáles son los asuntos o problemas que tenemos ante nosotros. Con esto en mente, los católicos deben de estar preparados para seguir abogando por la justicia y la misericordia en los días venideros. Esto requiere un continuo proceso de discernimiento, un sentido de valor y un compromiso a la participación política. Estamos bendecidos al vivir en un país donde ningún individuo o rama del gobierno puede cambiar unilateralmente la ley y su debido proceso. Por lo tanto, los católicos en particular tienen que estar preparados para participar de manera vigorosa y con postura firme en la discusión pública sobre cualquier cambio propuesto en la política desde una perspectiva que promueva una norma de ley que respete y mantenga la dignidad y los derechos de todas las personas.

Aquí en el Valle del Río Grande muchos temen que los futuros cambios en las leyes o en las normas de inmigración causen grandes daños a las familias y a los niños. La Iglesia trabajará cada instante para defender su dignidad y protegerles conforme a la ley. Continuaremos abogando a favor de una reforma integral del sistema legal de inmigración que sirva mejor a las familias y a aquellos que sufren bajo las insuficiencias del sistema actual. Es de interés nacional tratar al inmigrante con justicia, con compasión y con respeto. Para un cristiano esto es un imperativo del Evangelio.

Aquí en la frontera muchos también se preocupan por los elementos criminales que promueven drogas, pandillas, tráfico de personas, secuestros y extorsiones. La Iglesia pide que estos elementos sean frenados aplicando la ley sin perjudicar o dañar a la comunidad inmigrante que huye de estas mismas fuerzas. En el Valle del Río Grande sabemos de ante mano que muchas madres y niños huyen de la violencia y la criminalidad en México y en Centroamérica y llegan aquí buscando refugio. La comunidad local, en cooperación con las autoridades, siguen respondiendo generosamente a las familias afectadas por esta trágica realidad. La Iglesia, en su libertad, debe seguir apoyando a estas familias y a los jóvenes, y estar preparada enérgicamente para en el futuro protegerlos de políticas que podrían exponerlos a situaciones de peligro de muerte.

Dios se hizo carne en el vientre de la Virgen; de niño tuvo que huir con su familia de aquellos que amenazaban quitarle la vida; aceptó a vivir nuestra condición vulnerable; murió por acusaciones injustas y conflagraciones hóstiles; y resucitó de entre los muertos reivindicando todo lo que es verdadero y bueno. En esta profesión de fe se puede encontrar toda la Enseñanza Social de la Iglesia Católica, y por lo tanto, nuestra defensa de la vida humana desde la concepción hasta una muerte natural, nuestra vigilancia sobre la protección de la justicia hacia los inmigrantes y los indefensos, y nuestra esperanza inquebrantable del triunfo final de la vida sobre la muerte.

Solicito especialmente a los cristianos en el Valle del Río Grande para que sean fuertes en esta profesión y para que extiendan sus buenos efectos dentro de nuestra sociedad tan diversa. En este momento es primordialmente importante que en el Valle del Río Grande les  aseguremos a nuestros hermanos y hermanas inmigrantes que no están solos y que seguiremos apoyando y defendiendo su dignidad y sus derechos. Esta es una tierra buena y nuestro pueblo se apoya mutuamente en tiempos de incertidumbre.

Trabajemos juntos por lo que es noble y justo en la vida. No permitamos que el ira y el resentimiento nublen nuestra toma de decisiones sobre lo que constituye una buena política y una ley justa en la sociedad. Y oremos por nuestros nuevos líderes electos, especialmente por el presidente electo y el nuevo congreso para que sean instrumentos en una renovación de la justicia, la esperanza, y la reconciliación en nuestro país. 

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Concerning the Recent Elections

The recent elections have yielded their results, and those elected to serve in local, state and federal offices have begun preparing to take up their responsibilities. We pray for public servants of whatever party. Good order and a spirit of cooperation are in everyone's interest. As a people we begin the process of assessing where we go from here. Christians serve the country best when we promote a sense of the common good and when we defend justice, human dignity and the interests of the vulnerable in society.

We have long known that no one political party or platform satisfies the breadth of vision encompassed in the Gospel and in the Catholic Social Teaching that flows from it. The Church works to support what governments propose if we judge them in keeping with the human good and the formation of a more just society. We work to oppose  vigorously those aspects of a political agenda that injure the human good, or foment injustice of any kind. This means that on local, state and national levels we advocate for families, children, and the unborn, for the unemployed, the working poor and the immigrant. Justice is possible only when we recognize that all are included in its aims.

We know better today what the issues before us are, than we did before the election. With this in mind, Catholics should be prepared to continue to advocate for justice and mercy in the days ahead. This requires an ongoing process of discernment, a sense of courage, and a commitment to political participation. We are blessed to live in a country where no one person or one branch of government can unilaterally change law and due process. Thus, Catholics especially must be prepared to participate in a vigorous and sustained manner in the public discussion about any proposed changes in policy from a perspective that encourages a rule of law that both respects and upholds the dignity and rights of all peoples.

Here in the Rio Grande Valley many are afraid that future changes in immigration policy or law will cause enormous injury to families and children. The Church will work at every step to defend their dignity and their protections in law. We will continue to advocate on behalf of a comprehensive reform of the legal immigration system that better serves families, and those who suffer under the inadequacies of the current system. It is in the national interest to treat the immigrant justly, with compassion, and with respect. For a Christian it is a Gospel imperative.

Many here on the Border are concerned also about criminal elements that promote drugs, gangs, human trafficking, kidnappings and extortions. The Church asks that these elements be restrained by law enforcement, without detriment or injury to the immigrant community that flees from these very forces. In the Rio Grande Valley we know first-hand that many mothers and children fleeing from violence and criminality in Mexico and Central America have come here seeking refuge. The local community, in cooperation with local law-enforcement, continues to respond generously to the families affected by this tragic reality. The Church, in her freedom, must continue to support these families and young people, and be prepared energetically to protect them in the future from policies that might expose them to further life-threatening dangers.

God became flesh in the womb of the Virgin; was made to flee with his family from those who had designs on his young life; accepted to live our vulnerable condition; died by unjust accusation and conflagration; and he rose from the dead in vindication of all that is true and good. In this profession of faith can be found the whole of Catholic Social Teaching, and thus our defense of human life from beginning to natural end, our vigilance in protecting justice for the immigrant and the powerless, and our unyielding hope for the ultimate triumph of life over death.

I especially appeal to Christians in the Rio Grande Valley to be strong in this profession, and to extend its good effects within our diverse society. It is especially important at this time that we in the Rio Grande Valley assure our immigrant brothers and sisters that they are not alone, and that we will continue to support and defend their human dignity and rights. This is a good land, and our people support one another in times of uncertainty. 

Let us work together for what is noble and just in life. Let not anger and resentment cloud our decision-making about what constitutes good policy and just law in society. And let us pray for our newly elected leaders, especially for the President-elect and the new Congress, that they be instruments in a renewal of justice, hope and reconciliation in our country.

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