Posted on 03/04/2014 9:47:27 AM PST by NKP_Vet
POPE FRANCIS "In the Nazi and Comunist prisons there were a lot of Christians. For being Christians! Even today. 'But, Father, today we have more culture and things like that don't happen.' They still happen! I tell you: today there are more martyrs than in the times of the Early Christians.”
Pope Francis added that being Christian simply means following Christ, and that is far from any worldly success.
EXCERPT OF THE POPE'S HOMILY (Source: Vatican Radio)
"It’s as if Jesus said, ”Yes, you have left everything and you will receive here on earth many things: but with persecutions!” Like a salad with the oil of persecution: always! This is what the Christian gains and this is the road for the person who wants to follow Jesus, because it’s the road that He himself trod.: He was persecuted! It’s the road of humbling yourself. That’s what Paul wrote in his letter to the Philippians. ‘Jesus emptied himself and being in every way like a human being, he was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross’. This is the reality of Christian life.”
"This is because the world does not tolerate the divinity of Christ. It doesn’t tolerate the preaching of the Gospel. It does not tolerate the Beatitudes. And so we have persecutions: with words, with insults, the things that they said about Christians in the early centuries, the condemnations, imprisonment…. But we easily forget. We think of the many Christians, 60 years ago, in the labour camps, in the camps of the Nazis, of the communists: So many of them! For being Christians! And even today…. But (people say) ‘today we are better educated and these things no longer exist’. Yes they do! And I tell you that today there are more martyrs than during the early times of the Church.”
"They are condemned for having a Bible. They can’t wear a crucifix. And this is the road of Jesus. But it is a joyful road because our Lord never tests us beyond what we can bear. Christian life is not a commercial advantage, it’s not making a career: It’s simply following Jesus! But when we follow Jesus this happens. Let’s think about if we have within us the desire to be courageous in bearing witness to Jesus. And let’s spare a thought it will do us good – for the many brothers and sisters who today – today! – cannot pray together because they are persecuted: they cannot have the book of the Gospel or a Bible because they are persecuted.”
http://www.catholicleague.org/pope-condemns-anti-catholicism/
"And so we have persecutions: with words, with insults, the things that they said about Christians in the early centuries............"
99% of today’s martyrs are from two sources:
Communists
Muslims
It is even more interesting that some of the most virulent and hateful anti-Catholic attacks come from nominal Catholics in the U.S. and western Europe who attack those Catholics who remain devout and sincere.
“There are more martyrs today than in the times of Early Christians”
Perhaps he needs to read FOX’s BOOK of MARTYRS about the numbers of Christians that Catholics killed a few hundred years ago.
Someone needs to grow a thicker skin and get over it.
Well, the English protestants certainly gave as good as they got.. and then some.
All of the anti-Catholicism must really be getting under his skin.
“If this book was fair and balanced by any measure, then perhaps it could be accepted as historical proof of an age of violence in antiquity. But this is not a book concerning truth. No, this is a book written in order to push forth an agenda in asserting that the historical age of violence was perpetrated by the madness of the Catholic Church.
Certainly John Foxe took into no account testimony, fact, or evidence into his book as it is painted with the most vile and vivid accounts of the martydom of Protestants. This book is simply a tool that was used to inflame the passions of the young Protestant groups and nations across the Western world into stronger submission to their Protestant faith. Simple research into the motives of John Foxe would reveal the fact that Foxe had a bias, had a plan, and it was not one based upon historical fact but based upon wild fiction. I would highly recommend that if you are looking for accounts of Christian martyrdom for some sort of inspiration, then look at the age of the early Christians against the Roman Empire or of the modern day Christian martyrs who have suffered, and are suffering currently in Iraq and Afghanistan (Chaldean Christians)”
“This book is not what it pretends to be. I expected an objective and historic account of Christian martyrs over the centuries. While it starts out that way - maybe that the piece actually written by Foxe - but it quickly devolves into the alleged atrocities committed by the Catholic Church after the initial Christian conversion of Europe. While there is no doubt that the Catholic Church committed its share of atrocities in the name of Jesus and should be rightly condemned, the book ultimately lacks balance. For example, the book covers more than 50 individual “persecutions” during the reign of the Catholic Queen Mary of England. Yet, there is almost no mention of the martyrdom of the well-known Saint Thomas More at the hands of King Henry VIII. This book is little more than a rant in the name of John Foxe. I would recommend trying something else”
“This is an early example of polemical propaganda. It is rife with errors and outright falsehoods. Some of it is pure invention. I suggest instead that you read the lives of the Catholic martyrs. Thousands were killed during the Reformation for the crime of being Catholic. This is a story that is often ignored by fundamentalists. Either out of shame, ignorance, or hypocrisy”
“As a non-Roman Catholic historian and theologian, I have seen far too many Protestant “apologists” (read, anti-Catholics) use Foxe’s Book of Martyrs as a condemnation of 2000 years of Catholicism, or as a support for the Protestant Reformation, or any number of off-track purposes. This is not fair to either history, or Catholicism.
The Reformation in England was a bloody time. No reputable historian would doubt it. Foxe presents a tiny snapshot (more or less a decade) in which the Catholics (under the aptly named “Bloody” Mary I) executed a number of leading Protestant theologians and clergymen. This much is history. Incorporated with the history are the personal polemics of Foxe, which have little or nothing to do with the history of the times.
It’s interesting to note that the Catholics could just as easily present their own book of martyrs, taken from pretty much the same time period, in order to justify denouncing Protestants! Henry VIII was just as unpleasant to Catholics as his daughter was to Protestants! And Elizabeth I executed as many Catholics as Mary I did Protestants.
None of this is intended to justify violence in the Name of God — such is reprehensible no matter who participates in it. But both Catholics and Protestants have dirty hands, and finger pointing serves no purpose.
Consider this book in its context, but don’t try to draw modern polemic conclusions from it”
I hear you, the early Christian martyrs faced physical harm for their faith not merely hurt feelings. Getting indignant about someone insulting you is very ANTI-Christian. Even our Lord faced verbal insults at Calvary, of the most vile kind. This is the problem with organized religion, it seeks to create either group-thinking automatons or violent zealots, both are against the most basic of Christian tenants. Of course there are millions of good God loving Catholics who approach life with love, understanding, compassion and respect for ALL peoples, that is very much in harmony with what our savior wished for us. But human nature like it is and the reason we need a savior, some of us just can’t mind their own damn business and need to convince you sometimes by force that their thinking is right.
Ever hear of the inquisition?
I am willing to bet you have never read Fox, it’s free, give it a try.
Christians, Catholics and Protestants alike need skin thick enough to stop bullets in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
What would you say are the "most basic of Christian tenants"?
The enemies of Christ today take joy in our continuing infighting.
There might be a more ignorant cheap shot, but it would take quite a lot of effort to find it.
What do you think frustrated the pope enough to make him do it?
Allows get the history of those on the defense!
Read the truth about WWII from Nazis!
Read the truth about the Ukraine from Putin!
Love one another as I have loved you...
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