Christian Hall of Fame
In the early Church, every Christian aspired to be one thing: a martyr. This was considered the logical conclusion of following a man who himself was executed by the State. How better to imitate our Lord? The Church Father Origen was so anxious to be a martyr in his youth that his mother hid his clothes else he run out and be arrested during a persecution that claimed his father’s live.
In every century, even every year, Christianity has had men and women who have testified to the point of shedding blood. 2009 was no different as 37 Christian missionaries were killed.
This week Major League Baseball announced who would be inducted into their Hall of Fame. Here is the 2009 class of the Christian Hall of Fame:
- Fr Joseph Bertaina
- Fr Eduardo de la Fuente Serrano
- Fr Juan Gonzalo Aristizabal Isaza
- Fr Daniel Matsela Mahula
- Fr Lionel Sham
- Fr Révocat Gahimbare
- Fr Gabriel Fernando Montoya Tamayo
- Fr Jesús Ariel Jiménez
- Fr Ramiro Luden
- Fr Lorenzo Rosebaugh
- Father Ernst Plöchl
- Jorge Humberto Echeverri Garro
- Fr Habacuc Benítez Hernández
- Oregon Eduardo Benitez
- Silvestre Gonzalez Cambron
- Fr Gisley Azevedo
- Fr Mariano Arroyo Merino
- Ricky Sukaka Agus
- Fr Mukalel James
- Fr Leopoldo Cruz
- Fr Cecilio Lucero
- Fr Roger Ruvoletto
- Fr Evaldo Martiol
- Fr Danilo Oscar Cardozo
- William Quijano
- Fr Ed Hinds
- Fr Louis Jousseaume
- Sister Marguerite Bartz
- Father Hidalberto Henrique Guimaraes
- Fr Miguel Angel Hernandez
- Fr Jean Gaston Buli
- Fr Daniel Cizimya Nakamaga
- Fr Louis Blondel
- Sister Denise Kahambu Muhayirwa
- Fr Jeremiah Roche
- Fr Alvino Broering
- Fr Emiro Jaramillo Cardenas
All you holy men and women, pray for us!
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While I do not know if ALL these people fulfill the definition of a martyr (I suspect most do!) This should serve as a solemn reminder that the age of martyrdom contiues.
May we all be so strong.