What price would you pay for freedom?

The 1917 Mexican Constitution created laws that attacked the Catholic Church: seizing church property, outlawing religious orders, taking control of church matters—and went even further. The Constitution also prohibited priests from voting, the Church from even commenting on any public policy, and would not allow priests to wear their clericals or vestments outside their churches. President Calles, who was virulently anti-Catholic (and a Freemason), enforced these restrictions vigorously after his election in 1924. He also required state licensing of priests; thus the state could limit the number of priests by not licensing them. When priests continued to serve the Catholics of Mexico without being licensed, they were forced underground.

The results of this persecution were war and martyrdom. The forthcoming movie For Greater Glory depicts both aspects by telling the story of the army formed by Catholics in opposition to the Calles’ government, the execution of priests, and the martyrdom of José Luis Sánchez del Río, a young boy. The Cristeros, who took their name from the great cry, “Viva Cristo Rey!” were making progress against government troops when the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Dwight Morrow (Anne Morrow Lindbergh’s father) intervened to negotiate a truce, which unfortunately allowed the government to continue the persecution.

Pope Pius XI wrote three encyclicals denouncing this persecution. The persecution finally ended when a Catholic president, Manuel Avila Camacho, was elected in 1940. When Blessed John Paul II visited Mexico in 1979 it was still illegal for him to celebrate Mass in public. In 1992, a new Constitution amended the anti-Catholic provisions of the 1917 version.

The most famous martyr is Blessed Miguel Pro, the Jesuit priest executed on November 23, 1927. Father Pro entered Mexico illegally and had to wear disguises and hide to celebrate the Sacraments. When captured, he was accused of plotting against the government and condemned without trial. President Calle ordered his execution photographed in great detail, hoping to incite fear in the Cristeros army. But the photographs had the opposite effect and Catholics began to show great devotion to the martyr—soon the government forbade the distribution of the very photos it had publicized!

Pope John Paul II beatified Miguel Pro in 1998; he also canonized 25 Martyrs of this period on May 21, 2000. Thirteen more martyrs, including young José Luis Sánchez del Río were beatified in 2005 in Mexico.

Here is the trailer for the movie, coming in June, which tells the story of an impassioned group of men and women who each make the decision to risk it all for family, faith and the very future of their country, as the fim¹s adventure unfolds against the long-hidden, true story of the 1920s Cristero War ­the daring people¹s revolt that rocked 20th Century North America.

What if your enemy wrote your bio?

St. Callistus was a pope who died as a martyr in the year 222. Interestingly, the only biography we have of him was written by a rival, St. Hippolytus. When it was time to choose a pope, the deacon and former slave Callistus was chosen over Hippolytus.

Hippolytus was very strict and rigid in the way he followed rules and regulations. This was also true of the early Church which had been very rough on those who committed sins of adultery, murder, and fornication.

In contrast Callistus showed mercy to repentant sinners by allowing them back into communion of the Church after they had performed public penance. Callistus also promoted equality among Church members. For example, he accepted marraiges between slaves and free people. Hippolytus was enraged by this as he considered it degrading to the Church.

Fortunately the Church has continued to follow the path of St. Callistus.

Blessed Franz Jägerstätter

Franz Jägerstätter did not think World War II was a just war and he was a conscientious objector. In the United States, drafted conscientious objectors were put into the Civilian Public Service (CPS) where they served through the war and until every service man was returned. But Franz lived in Austria.

Franz met with priests and his Bishop explaining why he felt the war was not just and how he didn't feel he ought to serve. While each of the clergy suggested that he serve, (some saying that he was the type of Catholic they would need after the war to rebuild the country) each said he ought to follow his conscience.

In February, 1943 Franz was called into service. On March 1st he presented himself at the induction center, announced his refusal to fight, and offered to carry out non-violent services. The German board pleaded with him to serve rather than be executed. He was put in jail partially with the hope that he would change his mind. During that time, at Easter, his wife sent him a picture of their daughters hold a sign which said (in German) "Father please come home!"

In July a court sentenced him to death. On August 9th, Franz wrote, "If I must write... with my hands in chains, I find that much better than if my will were in chains. Neither prison nor chains nor sentence of death can rob a man of the Faith and his free will. God gives so much strength that it is possible to bear any suffering.... People worry about the obligations of conscience as they concern my wife and children. But I cannot believe that, just because one has a wife and children, a man is free to offend God."

Father Jochmann was the prison chaplain in Berlin and spent some time with Jägerstätter that day. He reports that the prisoner was calm and uncomplaining. He refused any religious material, even a New Testament, because, he said, "I am completely bound in inner union with the Lord, and any reading would only interrupt my communication with my God." Very few men could have made such a statement without seeming to be in denial or utterly mad.

Franz was beheaded that day, August 9, 1943 at the age of 36.

Father Jochmann later said of him: "I can say with certainty that this simple man is the only saint I have ever met in my lifetime."

Franz's ashes were buried and removed after the war. For some time the ashes were held in a convent and the religious sisters reported a number of miracles taking place during that time. The ashes were returned to the family and he was buried beside his church.
 

In 1997 a German Court overturned his death sentence.
 
In June 2007, Pope Benedict XVI issued an apostolic exhortation declaring Jägerstätter a martyr. In October he was beatified. His feast day, the day of his baptism, is May 21.

St. Charles Lwanga & companions

King Mwanga of Uganda took as chief steward a young Christian named Joseph Msaka Balikuddembe. Joseph detested the king's debauched ways, especially his attempts to corrupt young men, whom the steward tried to protect.

In October 1885, Mwanga ordered his followers to kill an Anglican missionary, Bishop James Hannington. The Catholic steward Joseph protested at the murder of a fellow Christian. The following month, Mwanga had him beheaded. "A Christian who gives his life for God is not afraid to die," Joseph proclaimed. "Mwanga has condemned me without cause; but tell him I forgive him from my heart." To the king's astonishment, the Christians were not cowed by his sudden outrage.

Six months later Mwanga discovered that a 14-year-old page, Mwafu, had been receiving instruction in the Catholic faith. He called for Denis Sebuggwago, who had been teaching the page, and killed him by thrusting a butcher's cleaver or spear through his throat. That night Charles Lwanga, the new master of the pages, baptized five of them including Kizito, whom he had repeatedly rescued from Mwanga's pederasty.

The next day the baptisms were discovered. Enraged, Mwanga assembled all the pages and ordered the Christians to separate themselves from the others. Fifteen, all under the age of 25, did so at once and were later joined by two already under arrest and two soldiers. They were asked if they wished to remain Christian and each replied, "Until death." The king ordered every Protestant and Catholic living in the royal enclosure be put to death.

Thirty-two Catholics and Protestants were led 37 miles away to Namugongo to be burned to death in a literal holocaust. Three were killed on the way. One of these, a district judge named Matthias Kalemba, declared, "God will rescue me. But you will not see how he does it, because he will take my soul and leave you only my body." He was cut into pieces and left to die by the roadside.

The rest of the martyrs were taken to Namugongo. They were imprisoned for seven days while a huge pyre was prepared. At the appointed time on Ascension Day, they were forced to lie on reed mats. Wrapped and tightly bound, they were laid side by side. Fuel was poured on them, and they were set afire. As their executioners sang, the martyrs died confidently praying to their Savior.