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mythbuster1
Guest
Is it possible to attain true martyrdom by being killed for upholding Natural Law? For example, someone killed for speaking out against infanticide.
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Jen7
Guest
I’ve wondered this too!
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TheLittleLady
Guest
From the Catechism:
2473 Martyrdom is the supreme witness given to the truth of the faith: it means bearing witness even unto death. The martyr bears witness to Christ who died and rose, to whom he is united by charity. He bears witness to the truth of the faith and of Christian doctrine. He endures death through an act of fortitude. “Let me become the food of the beasts, through whom it will be given me to reach God.”
2473 Martyrdom is the supreme witness given to the truth of the faith: it means bearing witness even unto death. The martyr bears witness to Christ who died and rose, to whom he is united by charity. He bears witness to the truth of the faith and of Christian doctrine. He endures death through an act of fortitude. “Let me become the food of the beasts, through whom it will be given me to reach God.”
I could be wrong, but, I know of no country on earth that has people who speak FOR infanticide.For example, someone killed for speaking out against infanticide.
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mythbuster1
Guest
Maybe not today, but in ages past, there were people who considered ritual infanticide something holy.
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Beryllos
Guest
You don’t score points just for getting killed. “Speaking out against infanticide” must be done with charity/love for all including those who hear you and those who promote or carry out infanticide.For example, someone killed for speaking out against infanticide.
Tis_Bearself
Patron
“Martyrdom” in the Catholic Church, for purposes of beatification and canonization, requires that you be killed “in odium fidei”, which translates as “in hatred of the faith”.
So unless you’re a Catholic and your Catholicism somehow related to your being killed, it’s not martyrdom as the Church defines it.
Example: Priest moves to remote island, finds people practicing infanticide, teaches them this is wrong in the eyes of the Church, tells their tribal chief that it’s wrong for him to commit/ allow infanticide. Chief doesn’t like Priest telling him what to do and sends his warriors to kill Priest. Priest is probably a martyr.
Example 2: Atheist doctor moves to remote island, does all the same stuff except teaches people it’s wrong to kill their infants because it’s against natural law, same outcome (Chief has Atheist doctor killed). Although God will look favorably on the doctor for standing up against the immoral murder of infants, Atheist doctor is not considered a “martyr” by the Church because he wasn’t killed due to his Catholicism - he’s not Catholic and doesn’t even believe in God.
So unless you’re a Catholic and your Catholicism somehow related to your being killed, it’s not martyrdom as the Church defines it.
Example: Priest moves to remote island, finds people practicing infanticide, teaches them this is wrong in the eyes of the Church, tells their tribal chief that it’s wrong for him to commit/ allow infanticide. Chief doesn’t like Priest telling him what to do and sends his warriors to kill Priest. Priest is probably a martyr.
Example 2: Atheist doctor moves to remote island, does all the same stuff except teaches people it’s wrong to kill their infants because it’s against natural law, same outcome (Chief has Atheist doctor killed). Although God will look favorably on the doctor for standing up against the immoral murder of infants, Atheist doctor is not considered a “martyr” by the Church because he wasn’t killed due to his Catholicism - he’s not Catholic and doesn’t even believe in God.
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kapp19
Guest
YES. St. Charles Lwanga and companions… Saints for our time!
May they pray for us!
May they pray for us!
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