Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions

We pray with the witness of Saint Charles Lwanga and the Uganda Martyrs, moving from a morning offering to Pope Paul VI’s powerful words on martyrdom, renewal, and courage. We close by asking for hearts strong enough for the daily battle of faith and merciful enough to seek an abundant harvest for the Church. 
• morning offering through the Immaculate Heart of Mary for daily life and intentions 
• Pope Paul VI’s canonization homily on the Uganda Martyrs and the Church’s martyrology 
• the surprise of modern heroism and the link to early African saints and martyrs 
• the need for a moral foundation and spiritual customs that can be handed on 
• spiritual warfare language shaped by courage, true faith, and blameless hearts 
• prayer that the blood of martyrs becomes the seed of Christians and renews the Church 

If you found this time of prayer and reflection fruitful and would like more opportunities to grow in your faith, consider joining the Cristeros and purchasing our publications now available on Amazon.com. The Cristeros app is available on the Apple app and Google Play Store. More information on the Cristeros can be found at theCristeros.org.

Transcript

Opening Prayer And Offering

0:02

Saint Charles Lawonga and companions, martyrs, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. O God, come to my assistance. O Lord, make haste to help me. O my Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day, in union with the holy sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, for the remission of my sins, for the intentions of my family and friends, and in particular for the intentions of the Holy Father. Amen.

Pope Paul VI On Uganda

0:38

From the homily at the canonization of the Martyrs of Uganda by Pope Paul VI. The African martyrs add another page to the martyrology, the Church's role of honor, an occasion both of mourning and of joy. This is a page worthy in every way to be added to the annals of that Africa of earlier which we, living in this era and being men of little faith, never expected to be repeated. In earlier times there occurred those famous deeds so moving to the spirit, of the martyrs of Sicily, of Carthage, and of that white robed army of Utica commemorated by Saint Augustine and Prudentius, of the martyrs of Egypt, so highly praised by Saint John Chrysostom, and of the martyrs of the Vandal persecution? Who would have thought that in our days we should have witnessed events as heroic and glorious? Who could have predicted to the famous African confessors and martyrs such as Cyprian, Felicity, Perpetua, and the greatest of all, Augustine, that we would one day add names so dear to us as Charles Luanga and Matthias Mulumba Kalemba and their twenty companions, nor must we forget those members of the Anglican Church who also died for the name of Christ.

A New Age For Africa

2:06

These African martyrs herald the dawn of a new age, if only the mind of man might be directed not towards persecutions and religious conflicts, but toward a rebirth of Christianity and civilization. Africa has been washed by the blood of these latest martyrs, the first of this new age, and, God willing, let them be the last, although such a Holocaust is precious indeed. Africa is reborn free and independent. The infamous crime by which these young men were put to death was so unspeakable and so expressive of the times. It shows us clearly that a new people needs a moral foundation, needs new spiritual customs firmly planted to be handed down to posterity. Symbolically, this crime also reveals that a simple and rough way of life, enriched by many fine human qualities yet enslaved by its own weakness and corruption, must give way to a more civilized life, wherein the higher expressions of the mind and better social conditions prevail.

Courage For The Fight Of Faith

3:13

We are warriors now, fighting on the battlefield of faith, and God sees all we do, the angels watch, and so does Christ. What honor and glory and joy to do battle in the presence of God and to have Christ approve our victory. Let us arm ourselves in full strength and prepare ourselves for the ultimate struggle with blameless hearts, true faith, and unyielding courage. What honor and glory and joy, to do battle in the presence of God and to have Christ approve our victory.

Closing Prayers And Intercessions

3:49

O God, who have made the blood of martyrs the seed of Christians, mercifully grant that the field which is your church, watered by the blood shed by Saint Charles Luanga and his companions, may be fertile and always yield you an abundant harvest. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen. All that I have and all that I am, I give to your hands, Jesus, through the heart of Mary, your blessed mother. Amen. Sacred heart of Jesus, have mercy on us. Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us. In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Join The Cristeros Community

4:33

If you found this time of prayer and reflection fruitful and would like more opportunities to grow in your faith, consider joining the Cristeros and purchasing our publications now available on Amazon.com. The Cristeros app is available on the Apple app and Google Play Store. More information on the Cristeros can be found at theCristeros.org.