During his morning Mass at Santa Marta, the Pope said that there are many Christians who are persecuted on the basis of their faith, more so than in the early days of the Church.
POPE FRANCIS
'There are many martyrs today, in the Church, many persecuted Christians. Think of the Middle East where Christians must flee persecution, where Christians are killed. Even those Christians who are forced away in an â??elegantâ?? way, with â??white glovesâ??: that too is persecution. There are more witnesses, more martyrs in the Church today than there were in the first centuries.â?
The Pope explained that the martyrs have bore witness of their faith, 'until the end.â? He added that in order for the Church to grow, Christians must give a 'strong and unconditionalâ? witness.
EXCERPTS FROM THE POPE'S HOMILY
Source: Vatican Radio
'We know that there is no growth without the Spirit: it is He who is Church, it is He who makes the Church grow, it is He who convokes the Churchâ??s community. But the witness of Christians is necessary too. And when historical situations require a strong witness, there are martyrs, the greatest witnesses. And the Church grows thanks to the blood of the martyrs. This is the beauty of martyrdom. It begins with witness, day after day, and it can end like Jesus, the first martyr, the first witness, the faithful witness: with bloodâ?.
'In the Gospel reading of the day one of Jesusâ??s disciples said that he would follow Him, but only after having buried his fatherâ?¦ and the Lord replied: â??No! Follow me without conditionsâ??. Your witness must be firm; you must use the same strong language that Jesus used: â??Your words must be yes, yes, or no, noâ??. This is the language of testimonyâ?.
'There are many martyrs today, in the Church, many persecuted Christians. Think of the Middle East where Christians must flee persecution, where Christians are killed. Even those Christians who are forced away in an â??elegantâ?? way, with â??white glovesâ??: that too is persecution. There are more witnesses, more martyrs in the Church today than there were in the first centuries. So during this Mass, remembering our glorious ancestors, let us think also to our brothers who are persecuted, who suffer and who, with their blood are nurturing the seed of so many little Churches that are born. Let us pray for them and for usâ?.
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