Martyrdom always seems to triumph. From the vengeful beheading of John the Baptist, through centuries of persecution, the faith not only persists, but thrives and expands. Roman emperors sought to squelch the new religion that was seen as attacking the very core of the Empire, and after three centuries of intermittent persecution, Christianity became officially recognized and eventually the religion of the Empire. St. Francis Xavier brought Christianity to Japan in the 1540's and by the '80's, there were over 200,000 Catholics, so much so that the Japanese Emperor tried to extinguish it by persecuting and executing priests, seminarians and lay people. 26 were killed in 1587; Paul Miki and his companions are commemorated today. Japan closed its borders to foreigners for 300 years to prevent further evangelization but when the borders were open to the West in 1868, thousands of Catholics emerged from hiding. The fire had kept burning.
Today as we worry about secularization and empty churches, we might take heart and persevere in the hope that not even the gates of hell will prevail. The Fire will keep burning and spreading
Bro. Rene
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