Cristy Li

First Martyrs of the Church of Rome Image: The Unpaved Path

(CNA) The early Christian protomartyrs of Rome were the first to be persecuted and executed en masse by the Emperor Nero in the year 64 and 65 before the martyrdom of St’s Peter and Paul (Feast Day: 29 June)

Nero was widely believed to have caused the fire that burned down much of Rome in 64 AD (rumor had it according to Franciscan Media that he wanted to enlarge his palace) which he blamed on the Christians and put them to death–many by crucifixion, others being fed to wild animals in the circus or being tied to posts and burned to death.

These first Christian Martyrs were called the ‘Disciples of the Apostles’ and their steadfastness in the face of their gruesome deaths were a powerful testimony that led to many conversions in the early Church.

• “May we have the same courage to witness (for) Jesus Christ and to change our society by the force of our love and example.”
  Archbishop Jose Gomez, Los Angeles

Related: For Today’s Holy Scripture Readings for the Memorial of the First Holy Martyrs, Visit: USCCB

Feasts of Saint’s Peter & Paul –Image Courtesy: Vatican

(Franciscan Media) Saint Peter (Martyred/Crucified Head Down in 64 at Italy Rome) — Saint Mark (Feast Day: 25 April) ends the first half of his Gospel with a triumphant climax–he’s recorded doubt, opposition and misunderstanding (Peter’s Declaration About Jesus: Mark 8:27-29 of many who that Jesus was. Now St. Peter, makes his great confession of faith: “You are the Christ.” —Mark 8:29

This was one of the many glorious moments in St. Peter’s life, beginning with the day that he was called from his fishing nets along the Sea of Galilee to become a ‘Fisher of Men’ for Jesus. —Matthew 4:18-20

The New Testament clearly shows St. Peter as the leader of the apostles chosen by Jesus to have a special relationship with him. — With St. James (Feast Day: 25 July) and St. John (Feast Day: 27 December) he (St. Peter) was privileged to witness the transfiguration, the raising of the daughter of Jarius to life and the agony of Gethsemane — His Mother-in-Law was cured by Jesus, he was sent with St. John, to prepare the last Pesach Seder (Passover meal) before Jesus’ death and his name is first on every list of apostles.

To Peter only did Jesus say:

“Blessed are you Simon Bar-Jona — For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you but my Father who is in Heaven and I tell you, you are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven.” —Matthew 16:17-19

The Gospels prove their own trustworthiness by the unflattering details they include about St. Peter, he clearly was no public-relations person, it is great comfort for us to know that St. Peter also has his human weaknesses, even in the presence of Jesus.

St. Peter generously gave up all things, yet he can ask in childlike self-regard–what are we going to get for all this: “Lo, we have left everything and followed you, what then shall we have?” —Matthew 19:27

With this, St. Peter received the full force of Jesus’ anger when he objects to the idea of the Suffering Messiah must go to Jerusalem –Foretelling of His Death: ‘Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me Satan. You are a hindrance to me; For you are not on the side of God but of men.” —Matthew 16:23

St. Peter was willing to accept Jesus’ doctrine of forgiveness but suggested a limit of seven times:

• Peter walked on the water of faith but sinks in doubt;

• Peter refuses to let Jesus wash his feet;

• Then wants his whole body cleansed;

• Peter vowed at ‘The Last Supper’ that he would never deny Jesus;

• Peter then swears to a Servant Maid that he’s never known Jesus;

• Peter loyally resists the first attempt to arrest Jesus by cutting off  Malchus’ ear;

• Peter in the end, runs away with the others.

In the depth of sorrow, Jesus looks on him and forgave him and he goes out and sheds bitter tears. — The Risen Jesus Christ, told Peter to feed His lambs and His sheep. —John 21:15-17

Saint Paul (Martyred/Beheaded in 65 at Italy Rome) — If the most well known Minister today suddenly began preaching that the United States should adopt Marxism and not rely on the Constitution, the angry reaction would help us to understand St. Paul’s life when he began ministering that Jesus alone can save us.

Paul had been the most Pharisaic (self-righteous; obsessiveness) of Pharisees, the most legalistic of Torah Lawyers and now he suddenly appears to other Jews as a heretical welcome of Gentiles, a traitor and apostate. — Paul’s central conviction was simple and absolute:

Only God can save humanity. No human effort, even the most strict observance of the Torah, can create a human good which he can bring to God as reparation of sin and payment for grace. To be saved from sin, from Satan, the fires of Hell,  from eternal separation of God and death, humanity must open itself completely to the saving power of Jesus.

Paul never lost his love for his family, though he carried a lifelong debate with them about the usefulness of the Torah without Jesus Christ. St. Paul, reminded the Gentiles that they were grafted on the parent stock of their Jewish brethren, who remained God’s ‘chosen people’ the children and ancestors of the promise.

More here and here on St. Peter and St. Paul -EWTN

Related: For Today’s Most Holy Scripture Readings for the Solemnity of Sts Peter & Paul, Visit: -USCCB

Blessed Jutta of Thuringia
Image: SQPN

(Franciscan Media) Born in Thuringia Sangrhausen (modern day Germany) Jutta was born into nobility living in luxury and power.

Truth, virtue and devotion to their Christian faith was always of prime importance to Jutta and her husband. — On their way to make a pilgrimage together to the Holy places in Jerusalem, Jutta’s husband died while on their journey, the newly widowed Jutta, after taking care to make financial provisions for her children, resolved to live the remainder of her life completely devoted to serve Jesus Christ.

After selling all of her expensive clothes, jewelry and furniture, Jutta became a Secular Franciscan, taking on the simple garment of the Order. — For the rest of Jutta’s life, she was completely devoted to others, caring for the sick (particularly of Lepers) tending to the needs of the poor who she visited in their places of abode, together with helping the crippled and blind who she shared a home with.

Many of the people of Thuringia laughed at how this once distinguished Woman born into nobility now spent her time but Jutta saw the ‘Face of God’ in the poor and felt honored to render whatever assistance she could provide.

About in the year 1260 shortly before Jutta’s death, she built a small a small dwelling (hermitage) and prayed unceasingly for the conversion of the non-Christians in Germany. — Jutta has been Venerated for centuries as the Patron of Prussia today known as Germany.

(Franciscan Media) Jesus called John the greatest of all those who had preceded Him:

“I tell you, among those born of Women none is greater than John; Yet he who is least in the Kingdom of God is greater than he.” —Luke  7:28

St. John spent his time in the desert, a man of self-discipline, he began to announce the coming of the Kingdom and to call everyone to a fundamental reformation of life.

His purpose was to prepare the way for Jesus Christ — His baptism he said, was for repentance but one would come who would Baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. John is not worthy to even carry his sandals, his attitude towards Jesus was:

“He must increase but I must decrease.” —John 3:30

St. John the Baptist was humbled to find among the crowd of transgressors who came to be baptized the one whom he already knew to be the Messiah. “…I need to be baptized by you and do you come to me?” –Matthew 3:14 – ‘Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.’ – Matthew 3:15 Jesus, true and humble human as well as Eternal God, was eager to do what was required of any good Jew. John therefore publicly entered the community of those awaiting the Messiah but making himself part of that community, he made it truly Messianic.

The greatness of St. John, his pivotal place in the history of Salvation is seen in the great emphasis that Luke gives to the announcement of his birth and the event itself–both made prominently parallel to the same occurrences in the life of Jesus. — St. John attracted countless people (‘all Judea’) to the banks of the Jordan river and it occurred to some people that he might be the Messiah but he constantly deferred to Jesus, even to sending away some of his followers to become the first Disciples of Jesus.

Perhaps St. John’s idea of the coming of the Kingdom of God was not being perfectly fulfilled in the public ministry of Jesus. For whatever reason, he sent his disciples (when he was in prison) to ask Jesus if He was the Messiah? Jesus’ answer showed that the Messiah was to be a figure like that of the ‘Suffering Servant’ in Isaiah 49-53 — St. John himself would share in the pattern of Messianic suffering, losing his life/being martyred to the revenge of Herod at Machaerus.

Related: Reflections For The Solemnity of the Birth of St. John the Baptist -Vatican

Saint John Fisher (1469-1535) Image: Pinterest

(EWTN) Born in England Yorkshire, John’s early life is practically unknown except for that his early education was likely received in the school annexed to the collegiate Church in his native community–In 1484 he went to Michaelhouse Cambridge to accept a BA degree and proceeded to receive a Masters in 1491 and in that same year, John was elected a Fellow of his college and named Vicar of Yorkshire Northallerton.

In 1494 John resigned his position to become Proctor of his university, three years subsequently he was appointed Master of Michaelhouse about the same time he became a Chaplain and Confessor to Margaret Beaufort, Countess of Richmond & Derby, Mother of King Henry VII — In 1501 John earned a Doctorate of Divinity and was elected Vice Chancellor of Cambridge University. Under John Fisher’s guidance, the Lady Margaret founded ‘St John’s & Christ’s Colleges’ at Cambridge, Dr. John Fisher became the first occupant of the Cambridge Chair.

In 1504 Dr. John Fisher now 35 yrs of age according to Franciscan Media was named Bishop of Rochester and in the same year, was elected Chancellor of Cambridge University (to which post he was reelected annually for ten years) One of Bishop Fisher’s interests was to raising the standard of the ministry in England. Bishop Fisher was an accomplished minister and writer, his Homilies on the Penitential Psalms were even reprinted several times during his lifetime.

Bishop Fisher in 1504 also became the tutor to Prince Henry VIII who later would become King — When King Henry VII and Lady Margaret died, Bishop Fisher was appointed both times to preach at their funeral Masses.

With the coming of Lutheranism, Bishop Fisher was drawn into a controversy, his eight books on heresy gave him a leading position among European theologians.

In 1521 Bishop Fisher was asked to study the question of King Henry VIII who desired an annulment of his marriage, he incurred Henry VIII wrath by defending the validity of it which Pope Clement VII, as I wrote here declared subsequently was valid and indissoluble. — Bishop Fisher also rejected Henry VIII claim to be the supreme head on earth of the Church of England.

In an attempt to get rid of Bishop Fisher, Henry VIII first accused him of not reporting all of the ‘revelations’ of the Nun of Kent. — Now Cardinal Fisher (pursuant to an Order of Pope Paul III believed to induce Henry VIII to treat him less severely) was summoned now in feeble health to take the oath to the new ‘Act of Supremacy’ failure to do so would result execution.

Both Cardinal Fisher and Thomas More (Canonized a Saint by Pope Pius XI) refused because the ‘Act of Supremacy’ presumed the legality of Henry VIII divorce and his claim to be the supreme head on earth of the Church in England.

Cardinal Fisher together with Thomas More (along with his wife and children) were sent to the ‘Tower of London’ where Bishop remained for 14 months without trial.

When Cardinal Fisher and Thomas More were called for interrogation, they both remained silent. Cardinal Fisher was subsequently ‘tricked’ on the belief that he was speaking privately as a Priest–he once more declared that Henry VIII was not the supreme head of the Church of England.

King Henry VIII further angered that Pope Paul III made Fisher a Cardinal, had him brought to trial like Thomas More on Treason — Cardinal Fisher was found guilty, condemned to be hanged, drawn and quartered. The mode of his execution however was subsequently changed and like Thomas More, Cardinal Fisher was beheaded.

Cardinal John Fisher was Beatified in 1886 by Pope Leo XIII and Canonized in 1935 by Pope Pius XI

Saint Thomas More (1478-1535)
Image Courtesy: Thom Ryng

(Franciscan Media) Born in England London, Thomas was the son of  a Judge. As a child, Thomas was sent to St. Anthony’s School where he attended until the age of 13 when he became the  protege of Cardinal  John Morton, Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Chancellor, here Thomas’ merry character and brilliant intellect attracted the notice of the Archbishop, who sent him to Oxford where he entered at the age of 14 in 1492

While at Oxford, Thomas made friends with William Grocyn and Thomas Linacre, the latter becoming Thomas’s first instructor in Greek, Without ever becoming an exact scholar, Thomas mastered Greek “by an instinct of genius” as witnessed by Pace (De fructu  qui ex doctrina percipitur, 1517) who adds, Thomas’ “eloquence is incomparable and twofold, he speaks with the same facility in Latin as in his own language.”

Besides the classics, Thomas studied French, History and Mathematics, he learned to play the flute and viol. After two years of residence at Oxford, Thomas was recalled to London and entered law school.

Despite Thomas More’s legal and political orientation according to Catholic News Agency he was uncertain in regard to the vocation that he should choose. Earlier in life, Thomas seriously considered joining the ‘Carthusian Monastic Order’ or the ‘Franciscans’ and followed a number of ascetic and spiritual practices throughout his life–such as fasting, abstinence and regular prayer.

In 1504 Thomas was elected to Parliament, he gave up his monastic ambitions–though not disciplined spiritual life, and became engaged, later marrying Jane Colt of Essex, they were very happily married for several years and were blessed by God with four children (Margaret, Elizabeth, Cecilia and a son John) however in 1511 Jane tragically died during childbirth. Following Jane’s death, Thomas later remarried a widow Alice Middleton, who was a very devoted wife and step-mother to Thomas’s children.

Two years earlier in 1509 King Henry VIII acceded to the throne. For years, the King showed a fondness for Thomas, working to further his career as a public servant. Thomas became part of King Henry VIII inner circle, eventually overseeing the English Court system as Lord Chancellor, More even wrote a book as ‘ghost writer’ in King Henry VIII name, defending Catholic doctrine against Martin Luther.

Thomas More’s eventual martyrdom would come as a consequence of King Henry VIII own tragic downfall. King Henry wanted an annulment to Catherine of Aragon, a marriage that Pope Clement VII declared to be valid and indissoluble. In 1532 Thomas resigned as Lord Chancellor refusing to support King Henry VIII efforts to defy Pope Clement and take control of the Church.

In 1534 King Henry VIII declared that every subject of the British Crown would be obligated to swear an oath affirming the validity of his new marriage to Anne Boleyn, refusing to do this would be regarded as Treason to the State.

In April of that same year, a Royal commission summoned Thomas More to force him to take the oath affirming the King’s marriage was valid, when Thomas could not accept the defiance of Pope Clement’s authority on the King’s new marriage, he was taken together with his wife Alice and their children and imprisoned in the Tower of London.

For a year and 3 months Thomas More’s wife and friends attempted to convince him to take the King’s oath and save his life–he refused. Subsequently an Act of Parliament went into effect that declared: King Henry VIII to be ‘the only supreme head on earth of the Church of England.’ Now, members of the Clergy in England were told that if they refused to execute King Henry VIII oath, they would be executed.

In June, Thomas was formally indicted for treason (as was earlier threatened) together with opposing King Henry VIII ‘Act of Supremacy’ in private conversations which Thomas More denied, after his trial he was sentenced to death.

Following Thomas More sentence, he wold argue that ‘King Henry VIII ‘Act of  Supremacy’ was contrary to the Laws of God and His Holy Church–Thomas argued that “no temporal prince” could take away the prerogatives that only belong ed to Saint Peter and his successors according to the words of Jesus Christ.

When Thomas More was told that most of the English Bishops had accepted the King’s Order, More replied that the Saints in heaven did not accept it.

In July, 1535 Thomas More was taken before the Executioner to be beheaded. More in his final words said: “I die the King’s good servant but God’s first.”

After his execution, Thomas’s head was displayed on London Bridge but later returned to his daughter Margaret who preserved it as a Holy relic of her father.

Thomas More was Beatified in 1886 by Pope Leo XIII and Canonized in 1935 by Pope Pius XI

In 2000, Pope Saint John Paul II declared Saint Thomas More, ‘Patron of Political Leaders’ for as supreme diplomat and counselor, Saint Thomas More did not compromise his own moral values in order to please the king, knowing that true allegiance to authority is not blind acceptance of everything that authority wants.

Related: For Today’s Holy Scripture Readings for the Memorial of St. Thomas More, Visit: -USCCB

Saint Aloysius Gonzaga (1568-1591)
Image: Ruby Lane

(EWTN) Born in Italy Lombardy at the Castle of Castiglione delle Stivieri, Aloysius was the son of Ferdinand Gonzaga, a Prince in the Roman Empire, he was trained from the age of 4 as a Soldier and Courtier (advisor to the throne) according to SQPN and served as a Page in the Spanish Court.

At the age of 8 Aloysius was placed in the Court of Francesco de’Medici in Florence where he remained for two years, going then to Mantua–At the age of 12, Aloysius was put under the spiritual guidance of  St. Charles Borromeo (Feast Day: 04 November) and from him, Aloysius received his First Communion.

In 1581 at the age of 13, Aloysius went with his father to Spain, where he and his brother were made Pages to James the son of Philip II while there, Aloysius made a commitment to himself to become a Jesuit, though he had first considered joining the ‘Discalced Carmelites’ — In 1584 Aloysius returned to Italy subsequent to the death of the Infanta and after much difficulty in securing his father’s consent, renouncing his heritage in favor of his brother–a proceeding which required the approval of the Emperor. Aloysius presented himself to Fr. Claudius Acquaviva who was then General of the Society.

Before the end of Aloysius novitiate, he passed a brilliant public act in Philosophy, having made his philosophical and also mathematical studies before his entrance. Aloysius had in-fact distinguished himself when in Spain by a public examination not only in Philosophy but also Theology at the University of Alcal & Aacuate.

Aloysius made his vows in 1587 immediately after he began his Theological studies–among his Professors were Fr. Vasquez and Fr. Azor. Three years later, while Aloysius was in his 4th yr of Theological studies a famine and pestilence broke out, even though Aloysius was not in the best of health, he devoted himself in caring for the sick–subsequently falling ill himself, he died at the age of just 23 on this date in 1591

In 1621 Aloysius was Beatified by Pope Gregory XV and was Canonized in 1726 by Pope Benedict XIII

More here from Catholic News Agency and here from Franciscan Media

Related: For Today’s Holy Scripture Readings for the Memorial of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, Visit:  -USCCB