Good People,
I learned a new sign. It is the word for Martyr. What is a "Martyr?" Why do we use this word in Mass? As we are watching the Priest offer our prayers up to the Father, joining with him in this solemn act, we come to a point where we ask God to be part of the saints in heaven. We mention Mary, the queen of all saints, the privileged group in heaven called the Apostles, and then we mention the martyrs. This was a group in the early Church who quickly became heroes and whom everybody knew for sure was in Heaven. How did one get to be included in this group? It was the case that the non-christian majority wheeled great worldly power and, from time to time, would use that power to persecute the followers of Christ. Some Christians when threatened with torturer death would give in and in their weakness deny Christ and participate in the various pagan rites that were required of them. Some, however, would show the infused supernatural virtue of love and love God so much that they could love him even more than themselves. They could endure the worst this world could muster up and without hate, but with love, and forgiveness for their torturers, they would never stop witnessing to Christ and his Church. This is the group that converted many to follow Christ. People would ask, "by what power, and by whose name does this person love so much?" They became living Gospels. They died just like Christ; innocent, and forgiving of the people killing them even in the mists of the killing.
The sign as I have been told is made up of a gesture that looks like a chop to the neck followed by the standard person sign. I hope that it is clear what I am leading you all to ask God for. These great lovers, the martyrs, are our spiritual mothers and fathers. We ask God at Mass that we will share in the great reward they now enjoy forever. We know that they are surely in heaven and that therefore they can help us still. So at Mass we remember to ask for there help as we battle here on Earth. They will help us to succeed in love to the end.
Please let me know if the signs I use at Mass are unintelligible.
Don't forget about our need for a person to run the Yankee Candle fundraiser.
Sincerely,
Fr. St. Martin
