Martyrs

[ChristIsTheWay]

I have a few questions about martyrs. Someone mentioned to me that if one is martyred for Christ, the Church believes they go straight to Heaven with no need to go to Purgatory for remaining sins and temporal punishments. That makes sense and I am just double checking to make sure that it is correct. Second, I was also told that when someone is recognized as a martyr, the Church recognizes the martyr as a saint without using the normal process for canonization. I am not sure what that means (though assuming the first part of my post is correct, it does make some sense) and was hoping someone could elaborate? Finally, does anyone know of recent (100 years or less) Catholic martyrs?

 

[DavidFilmer]

Someone mentioned to me that if one is martyred for Christ, the Church believes they go straight to Heaven with no need to go to Purgatory for remaining sins and temporal punishments.

That is an incomplete statement.

In the early Church, when persecutions were common, there arose the question of what fate is in store for catechumins (who are not yet Baptized) yet are martyred for the Faith. The Church recognized that such people merited the Grace of Baptism (which is commonly called “Baptism of Blood”). Such a person would, indeed, go to Heaven and bypass Purgatory. However, this cannot be extended to the majority of martyrs who died long after actual water Baptism.

To my knowledge, the Church has never defined that such people bypass Purgatory. However, the Church has taught that earthly suffering and sacrifice mitigate the effects of Purgatory, so it is not unreasonable to suppose that martyrs could “pay the last penny” in their death.

does anyone know of recent (100 years or less) Catholic martyrs?

Dozens of Catholic missionaries are killed each year in hostile lands. Of course, in the past Century, we have seen martyred Saints, especially at the hands of the Nazis (notably St. Theresa Benedicta (ie, Edith Stein) and St. Maximillian Kolbe). Bishop Oscar Romero (of San Salvidor) also comes to mind - he was gunned-down as he elevated the Host at Mass.

 

[ChristIsTheWay]

That is an incomplete statement.

In the early Church, when persecutions were common, there arose the question of what fate is in store for catechumins (who are not yet Baptized) yet are martyred for the Faith. The Church recognized that such people merited the Grace of Baptism (which is commonly called “Baptism of Blood”). Such a person would, indeed, go to Heaven and bypass Purgatory. However, this cannot be extended to the majority of martyrs who died long after actual water Baptism.

Okay, I’m a little confused. I was aware of “baptism of blood” but I am curious as to why martyred catechumens would bypass purgatory but water baptized martyrs would not.

 

[Lainey63]

I have always been taught that all who die as a matryr go straight to heaven. Right now Catholics and Christians are being persecuted and killed in India, Iraq, and the middle east and China. In parts of Africa where Al-Queda has great influence catholic and christian children are kidnapped and enslaved…young girls are also kidnapped, raped and enslaved-all because they are Catholics or Christians. Catholics have been harassed, beaten, imprisoned and killed simply because of their faith throughout the Cold War in Communists countries.

Just a few years ago here in the US a young teenage girl was shot by another teenager in school…I think it was Columbine. But if I recall correctly he asked her if she would die for her God and she said “yes” and he shot & killed her…

All of these have been in the news-mostly the catholic news. Just an f/y/i…someone who was in law enforcement used to say all the time “You’d be amazed at all the things that happen that you don’t read in the news.”

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I have a few questions about martyrs. Someone mentioned to me that if one is martyred for Christ, the Church believes they go straight to Heaven with no need to go to Purgatory for remaining sins and temporal punishments. That makes sense and I am just double checking to make sure that it is correct. Second, I was also told that when someone is recognized as a martyr, the Church recognizes the martyr as a saint without using the normal process for canonization. I am not sure what that means (though assuming the first part of my post is correct, it does make some sense) and was hoping someone could elaborate? Finally, does anyone know of recent (100 years or less) Catholic martyrs?

It is possible but we can not know for sure unless the Church declares them a Saint. Every person who dies for Christ is called a Martyr but not necessarily a canonized Saint.

The word Martyr means “Witness” They witnessed for Christ with their life.

 

[DavidFilmer]

Okay, I’m a little confused. I was aware of “baptism of blood” but I am curious as to why martyred catechumens would bypass purgatory but water baptized martyrs would not.

It’s a matter of timing. Someone who is martyred (by definition) dies at the moment of receiving Baptismal Grace. It’s possible to die immediately after receiving water Baptism (with the same effect), but most folks don’t, and somewhere along the way they accumulate some cruff.

 

[ChristIsTheWay]

It’s a matter of timing. Someone who is martyred (by definition) dies at the moment of receiving Baptismal Grace. It’s possible to die immediately after receiving water Baptism (with the same effect), but most folks don’t, and somewhere along the way they accumulate some cruff.

Okay, that makes sense. Which leads me to my next question, does baptism (water or otherwise) also grant some kind of plenary indulgence, too? Assuming I am understanding Church teaching correctly, which I’m never too sure about, does baptism also remit the temporal punishments for our sins that would normally be taken care of in purgatory or through indulgences? Or I am totally confused and off base?

 

[DavidFilmer]

Odoes baptism (water or otherwise) also grant some kind of plenary indulgence, too?

It’s not an indulgence, but the effects are the same:

By Baptism all sins are forgiven, original sin and all personal sins, as well as all punishment for sin. In those who have been reborn nothing remains that would impede their entry into the Kingdom of God, neither Adam’s sin, nor personal sin, nor the consequences of sin, the gravest of which is separation from God.

CCC 1263
​

IMHO, the Catechism is a little ambiguous in that last sentence. It is not saying separation from God is the greatest sin (as it could be read) but that it is the greatest *consequence *of sin.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Okay, that makes sense. Which leads me to my next question, does baptism (water or otherwise) also grant some kind of plenary indulgence, too? Assuming I am understanding Church teaching correctly, which I’m never too sure about, does baptism also remit the temporal punishments for our sins that would normally be taken care of in purgatory or through indulgences? Or I am totally confused and off base?

First off you can’t say “Baptism (water or otherwise)” Because water Baptism is not equal to what is known as Baptism of Desire, or Baptism of Blood.

Water Baptism does remit Temporal Punishment, it forgives all sins Original and personal. It also places a Sacramental mark on the persons soul.

Baptism of Desire and Baptism of Blood forgives Original Sin and personal sin, but it does not place a Sacramental mark on the persons soul and may or may not remit Temporal punishment.

 

[ChristIsTheWay]

It’s not an indulgence, but the effects are the same:
IMHO, the Catechism is a little ambiguous in that last sentence. It is not saying separation from God is the greatest sin (as it could be read) but that it is the greatest *consequence *of sin.

Well, now it does make sense. Thank you.

First off you can’t say “Baptism (water or otherwise)” Because water Baptism is not equal to what is known as Baptism of Desire, or Baptism of Blood.

I didn’t equate them. Thanks for the additional information.