CBB Review: To The Martyrs

“Martyrdom should be admired, and it may be desired, but it should not be sought. It is a particular vocation received by a few.” Cardinal Donald Wuerl has written a book, To the Martyrs: A Reflection on the Supreme Christian Witness, that draws our attention to the persecution of Christianity. Look back at the persecutions during the Roman Empire and traveling through modern day persecutions inflicted by Muslim extremists he gibes honor to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for the faith.

We must note the Gospels themselves do not promote martyrdom. In fact, we are told in Matthew 10:23 “When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next.” Cardinal Wuerl points out that this is how the Gospel spread in the early days if the Church. “Christianity would not have reached Antioch if the disciples had not been forced o flee Jerusalem. The disciples however were able to discern when martyrdom was their only option. All but one, Saint John, died a martyrs death. It is widely believed that Saint Peter himself was attempting to flee Rom when Christ appeared to him on the road. Upon this encounter Peter turned around, returned to the city and faced his martyrdom. The bottom line us martyrs are called not self-appointed.

Cardinal Wuerl points out something I myself had not considered before. He spends some time looking at martyrdom as described in First and Second Maccabees as well as the book of Wisdom. He makes an interesting statement from these scriptures that Christians are not necessarily persecuted for what they believe but rather because their witness pints out to the oppressor what they themselves are lacking. In talking about the prosecuted offense Cardinal Wuerl tells us: “It is rather, his very righteousness that gives offense. By his life he reminds the wicked that goodness is possible – that it is more noble – and that it is more admirable. He reminds them, too – through the example of his piety – of the uncomfortable fact of God’s existence and the eventual judgement of every human being.”

Readers are likely familiar with the persecution of the early Christians. This book provides an excellent overview of that period of time for those who do not and a worthy review for those who do. It is known as the Age of the Martyrs and is accentuated by the mass murder of Christians by Nero. His tactics included dousing Christians in pitch and lighting them on fire at night. He also had them dressed in animal skins as sent to the arena to face animal predators….all in the name of entertainment.

“That was the situation of Christians in the empire through much of the Roman era. Persecution was always possible and it was often a threat, but It was only occasionally bloody and widespread. Most of the time, persecution tool the form of a constant prejudice, disfavor, and exclusion from trades and social position.”

The underlying theme in Cardinal Wuerl relays is that martyrdom is by no means limited to early church persecution by the Romans. Down through the ages persecution of Christians has continued. We need alone look at the Armenian Genocide, the Mexican Persecution, Soviet Communism, the Spanish Civil War, Nazi Germany, and Communist China to see that hatred of Christianity has really never ceased.

Unfortunately, as Cardinal Wuerl points out, martyrdom is still visible to us today. In our time we witness the crisis of Christians living in countries ruled by Muslim extremists. Ones who flaunt the killing of Christians via modern day social media. In February 2015, one such example of the use of social media, we were all witness to the Islamic State beheading of Twenty-one Coptic Christians. Twenty of these brave men refused to denounce their God despite facing death. The twenty-first? He chose to die with his fellow prisoners stating “Their God is my God.” The Church has always believed that those who suffer death for the sake of the Faith die as Christian martyrs. What a powerful witness making one wonder if we would be so brave.

That is just one example provided in the book. Ukranian Catholics are harassed by imperialist Russians, Indian Christians face discrimination and mob violence from Hindu nationalists, Mexican priests and bishops are martyred by drug lords, here in the United States even we are witnesses to an ever growing anti-Catholicism.

What do we do in the face of this modern day persecution that may not always involve death but a discrimination and persecution that makes practicing one’s faith uncomfortable at best. Do we sit idly by as our brothers and sisters in the middle east face the threat of violence daily? Do we just watch as beheadings take place before our eyes on YouTube? Cardinal Wuerl says no and I would have to agree.

“Let us act, so that no one may say we are complicit by silence in something so horrendous as the religious cleansing of nations.

Let us act, so that no one may say we lack hope. Even in the face of these outrages, we believe in the power of prayer and we know that God’s grace can touch and change every human heart.”

Reading To the Martyrs is your first step in playing an active role in acknowledging and vocalizing the issues apparent today. We must learn from the past in order to be prepared and understand the present. Cardinal Wuerl gives readers the history they need and shows how Christian persecution continues today. Armed with this knowledge we can effectively prayer for and give witness to our brothers and sisters in Christ facing martyrdom today.

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I received a copy of the book  from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Visit Emmaus Road Publishing to get your own copy of To the Martyrs by Cardinal Donald Wuerl.