Voluntary martyrdom

[DrawNearToGod]

If one goes to Mass knowing they could catch coronavirus but go out of love for God and then later dies, is that martyrdom?

Or is putting yourself in danger that you could avoid “cheating”?

 

[otjm]

No. One was not giving up one’s life for the Faith.

Putting yourself in danger is crass stupidity unless there is a really strong reason below it, such as working in a hospital where people are quarantined. And that is not martyrdom.

 

[InThePew]

Or is putting yourself in danger that you could avoid “cheating”?

Most martyrdom involves a person putting themselves in danger. However, a martyr is someone who dies in odium fidei (hatred of the faith).

Beatification can also come about through as a result of a person heroically offering their life for their neighbour by freely and voluntarily accepting a certain and premature death in imitation of Christ. EDIT: this is separate from martyrdom

Simply contracting (and dying of) coronavirus through attending mass wouldn’t qualify under either category.