"We may be inclined to believe that the age of martyrdom is an age of the past. When we think of Christian martyrs, we are likely to conjure images of the persecutions that took place in the 1st and 2nd centuries. During the reign of the Roman emperor Decius, for example, an 18-month, empire-wide campaign led to the slaughter of some 3,000 to 3,500 Christians in the year 250 (as estimated by the English ecclesiastical historian WHC Frend).
"And yet the truth is perhaps more difficult to bear, for the 20th and 21st centuries have produced more Christian martyrs than any other time in the history of our great faith.
"How should we respond? What should we do in the face of such evil? . . ."
In a
recent commentary using the example of the brother of two of the 21 Coptic Christians beheaded by ISIS in 2015, Father Patrick Briscoe, O.P.,
reflected on the Christian response of countering violence and terror with love and forgiveness.
To access Fr Patrick's complete post, please visit:
Aleteia: Fr. Patrick Briscoe, OP: Brother of 2 martyrs shows how to counter violence (27 AUG 20)
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