Would Like to be a Martyr?

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I was listening to some recordings off a series EWTN did the other day, and they were talking about how many of the saints wanted to die as martyrs for Jesus Christ. I would like to be able to certainly say that I would love if God has chosen me to be a martyr, but when I thought about all the horrible stuff that people have suffered, I wondered if I would have the spiritual strength to suffer immense pain for the sake of Jesus. I pray that if it ever came to that, God would give me His grace. I was wondering if anyone else ever thought about this, and if anyone else wanted to die as a martyr for Jesus Christ?
 
A big resounding YES!

But at the same time I’m a big chicken…May the Holy Spirit give me courage. Thy will be done.😛

Please pray for Pope Benedict the Brave.
 
I reckon we all are being martyred, constantly; the world, the flesh and the devil are good at what they do.
 
yes. as long as it didn’t hurt and i was about 103 years old when it occurred…

🙂
 
Sure, a quick bullet to the head is nothing.

Im horrified of torture though.

Although, pain is all in the mind, right 🙂

Peace and God Bless.
 
I can recall reading about the early Jesuits in North America. They all suffered terrible tortures, which they had prayed to suffer. I was shocked when I read that but not because I thought it was odd. They wanted to suffer so they could become more like the Lamb.

It’s very beautiful what many martyrs prayed for. Sometimes I find myself asking the same things they did. The only thing we need for martyrdom is God; fortunately He gives us what we ask for.
 
we might get our chance in our lifetime the way things are going, and I certainly think my children and grandchildren will face very real persecution for their faith.
 
I have a real problem with this idea of wanting to be a martyr. This just strikes me on a personal, gut level as wrong. Certainly, I wish, hope, and pray for the strength and the gift of Grace to handle whatever God chooses to come my way, but to want to be martyred - to want my body to be destroyed quite probably in a horrific and agonizing manner - seems disrespectful to the gifts God gave me - the gifts of this body and this life. It also seems too reminiscent for comfort of members of another religious group who actively seek martyrdom (along with the deaths of others) as an assurance of salvation.

I certainly admire the courage and faith of those martyred for their belief. They are inspirational to all who share in that faith and even to many who don’t. However, I think there is a certain danger in overglorifying the concept of martyrdom, and I certainly would not wish it on anyone, myself included. JMHO.
 
I pray for the grace not to betray Christ by apostasising if I am put to the test, but don’t ask to be a martyr as such.

As a mother I have taken 2 Machabees 7 very much to heart and prayed that I might have that mother’s strength of Faith.

As for modern day martyrs, that is what Terri Schiavo was and many others who have been put to death that way against their religious beliefs.
 
This sums it up for me:

“She could never be a saint, but she thought she could be a martyr if they killed her quick.”

Flannery O’Connor
 
puzzleannie said:
we might get our chance in our lifetime the way things are going, and I certainly think my children and grandchildren will face very real persecution for their faith.
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I agree, it’s already happening and alot of people want to get rid of the Cross.
 
Martyr is from μαρτυρ, the Greek word for “witness”.

In the early Christian Church, telling other people about Jesus (and if they thought you were a Christian) was behavior that could result in punishment including death.

If one wants to be a martyr for Christ, I think one needs to have an attitude of wanting to tell others about the gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ. I think this is best done in a state of grace and by being empowered by the Holy Spirit, with love.

At Mass tonight (on another topic), our priest said it is important to have an attitude of love. Sometimes love must be tough love. And if love must be tough, it must be so in the best possible way.

I think the words “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord” said at the end of Mass are among the most important words of the Mass. We must have an attitude of being changed, being filled with Christ and being willing to do something by offering ourselves as members of Christ’s body here on earth.

I heard a former NFL football player speak about a week ago (at a small meeting of perhaps 150 people). Although he had three super bowl rings, it turned out that this former football player was really a fine man with admirable character. He emphasized that we must endeavor to have three "C"s. Character, Conduct and Conversation. As Christians, we really should strive to show ourselves bearing the Fruit of the Holy Spirit. And have hearts that are aware of (and not stifle up) the needs of others.

Perhaps the greatest need that others have is for Christ. And yet we must also show concern for other dimensions of humanity in order to serve Christ in others (I think this is what Mother Theresa did).

There are those who were witnesses for Christ in the midst of extreme dangers and yet they were not killed during their most challenging encounters. Such as Bishop Pacelli (who later became Pope Pius XII), and Saint Anthony. Just because they encountered extreme evil and were not killed (spared by God because their work was not yet finished) they aren’t considered martyrs. And Mary, the mother of Jesus, is considered to be the Queen of Martyrs. Yet she was not directly killed by others because of her witness. Aren’t these (Bishop Pacelli and St. Anthony) also examples of martyrs? I think so. They were among the best witnesses for Christ the world has ever seen.
 
Kevin42 said:
I was listening to some recordings off a series EWTN did the other day, and they were talking about how many of the saints wanted to die as martyrs for Jesus Christ. I would like to be able to certainly say that I would love if God has chosen me to be a martyr, but when I thought about all the horrible stuff that people have suffered, I wondered if I would have the spiritual strength to suffer immense pain for the sake of Jesus. I pray that if it ever came to that, God would give me His grace. I was wondering if anyone else ever thought about this, and if anyone else wanted to die as a martyr for Jesus Christ?
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well here is my 2 cents worth. Jesus died a horrible horrible death
for us all, and if it was God’s will that I died a martyr, so be it. I
would die loving Jesus and praise Him as I drew my last breath
make no mistake about it.
 
jmm08 said:
Martyr is from μαρτυρ, the Greek word for “witness”.

In the early Christian Church, telling other people about Jesus (and if they thought you were a Christian) was behavior that could result in punishment including death.

If one wants to be a martyr for Christ, I think one needs to have an attitude of wanting to tell others about the gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ. I think this is best done in a state of grace and by being empowered by the Holy Spirit, with love.

At Mass tonight (on another topic), our priest said it is important to have an attitude of love. Sometimes love must be tough love. And if love must be tough, it must be so in the best possible way.

I think the words “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord” said at the end of Mass are among the most important words of the Mass. We must have an attitude of being changed, being filled with Christ and being willing to do something by offering ourselves as members of Christ’s body here on earth.

I heard a former NFL football player speak about a week ago (at a small meeting of perhaps 150 people). Although he had three super bowl rings, it turned out that this former football player was really a fine man with admirable character. He emphasized that we must endeavor to have three "C"s. Character, Conduct and Conversation. As Christians, we really should strive to show ourselves bearing the Fruit of the Holy Spirit. And have hearts that are aware of (and not stifle up) the needs of others.

Perhaps the greatest need that others have is for Christ. And yet we must also show concern for other dimensions of humanity in order to serve Christ in others (I think this is what Mother Theresa did).

There are those who were witnesses for Christ in the midst of extreme dangers and yet they were not killed during their most challenging encounters. Such as Bishop Pacelli (who later became Pope Pius XII), and Saint Anthony. Just because they encountered extreme evil and were not killed (spared by God because their work was not yet finished) they aren’t considered martyrs. And Mary, the mother of Jesus, is considered to be the Queen of Martyrs. Yet she was not directly killed by others because of her witness. Aren’t these (Bishop Pacelli and St. Anthony) also examples of martyrs? I think so. They were among the best witnesses for Christ the world has ever seen.
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Very beautifully expressed.

It is important to enter into a daily bloodless martyrdom by the daily laying down of our lives in service to Christ, this is the witness of our lives, our living prayer of the Gospel. In this way we are all called to martyrdom, a martyrdom of the ‘self’ and it is this we bring to offer to God in thanksgiving at Holy Mass.

If we cannot live the daily martyrdom, this little living prayer, then how do we hope to aspire to a martyrs death?

Thank you for your post which I very much enjoyed reading.

In my prayers.
 
I have no intention whatsoever of dying a martyr’s death; as Demosthenes said, “He who fights and runs away, will live to fight another day.”

Now he was a wise pagan.
 
Whiggamore said:
I have no intention whatsoever of dying a martyr’s death; as Demosthenes said, “He who fights and runs away, will live to fight another day.”

Now he was a wise pagan.
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Christ said ‘greater love hath no man than this, to lay down his life …’

Great as Demosthenes was, he was hardly the only-begotten Son of God now, was he, so I don’t think he can compare in the wisdom stakes.
 
If you’re called to be a Martyr, you’ll be one and God will prepare your heart for it.

My biggest fear is if I were ever put to the test, I would not be able to stand firm in my faith.

It’s easy to say that I would be strong and accept martyrdom, while sitting in the safe and secure comfort of my own home, but it would be a different thing, if faced with the real event.

As the words in the Our Father go;

“Lord, put me not to the test.”

Jim
 
Martyrdom is an interesting subject in this day and age.

I mean, it’s not something that you hear about all too often! Of course in the early days of Christianity–when Christians faced widespread opposition from governments, religions, etc.–it was more likely that those who were convicted in the faith would have the necessity to die for it. Today, however, in many places around the world Christianity is the prevailing religion, and we don’t face the widespread opposition characteristic of the early Christian era.

But of course, Kevin, you and I realized a few months ago that martyrdom is still a very real thing! Remember what that guy said to us at St. Mary’s? He knew a priest in Africa who would likely be martyred within the next few years?!? I think we were both a bit surprised to hear how matter-of-factly this was stated!

So obviously, though today there remains the need for martyrdom in certain regions around the world, it’s unlikely that the majority of Christians will ever face such a situation.

Honestly, when I was younger and had the “faith of a child,” I prayed that God would teach me how to live like the Saints so that I, too, could live and die for Him. There were times when I was certain that I was prepared to be a martyr if ever a situation arose in which I would need to proclaim my faith in Jesus. Though I haven’t really thought too much about it lately, I guess you could say that if I ever were put in such a situation, I would see no other option but to proclaim the good news… I certainly don’t think I could live the rest of my life knowing that I had denied God (or perhaps had spent the last moments of my life denying Him).

But now to what I really wanted to say (sorry! This is only my second post ever…): I was reading a great book called Rediscovering Catholicism by Matthew Kelly, and he made a very valid point about the saints and martyrdom. While the Faith may have required men and women to die for its sake in its early stages (and to a lesser extent, today) the modern Church has a much greater need for men and women willing to LIVE for the faith! While dying for Christ is a beautiful form of witness to His love, living for Him and loving Him with our all your heart, soul, mind and strength is just as beautiful!

And that is what I see in God’s plan for me… LIVING for the faith.

Whoop!
 
Kevin42 said:
I was listening to some recordings off a series EWTN did the other day, and they were talking about how many of the saints wanted to die as martyrs for Jesus Christ. I would like to be able to certainly say that I would love if God has chosen me to be a martyr, but when I thought about all the horrible stuff that people have suffered, I wondered if I would have the spiritual strength to suffer immense pain for the sake of Jesus. I pray that if it ever came to that, God would give me His grace. I was wondering if anyone else ever thought about this, and if anyone else wanted to die as a martyr for Jesus Christ?
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I recall at around the time of my First Communion, the nun that taught us telling us that martyr’s went immediately to Heaven, which impressed me no end as my list of sins grew in number and nature. So I told God I would be a martyr if a communist shot me in the back of the head and then He could take me straight to Heaven and cancel out my growing list. I had it figured that if a communist shot me I would have to be a martyr(in those days, communists were the devil himself) and if it was in the back of the head, I wouldn’t see the bullet coming and would die immediately without any suffering involved. I held on to that for quite a long time until someone burst my bubble by impressing on me that “My Ways are not your ways” and I realized that I may well not have any say in the matter and that I had better rethink this martyrdom wish…a little further on still and I realized that I would get no say at all in the time, way nor manner of death which totally appalled me!..and no little scared me!
Confessions of a young budding control freak!!!:o …who perfected the dynamic!:o

I think that if God asked martyrdom, then The Grace to bear it would be there at that precise time of actual martyrdom only. A priest impressed on me that God in all probability would not grant me The Grace to deal with my imagination and imaginings. About that time I began to wake up to the difference between reality and imagination and about time too…

Blessings - Barb:)
 
As a future Air Force man I have come to the realization that I may have to die for my country. I wouldn’t consider that martyrdom. Now, if I am somehow held captive and told to repent because I am Catholic and I am killed by a terrorist organization, than yes that is martyrdom. That is no different than the girl from Columbine who was shot in the head for not forsaking her love for Christ.

I don’t ask for it. I don’t want to die in that manner. But if it is the will of the Lord than it shall be so and I will meet death with his grace.
 
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