“Dungeon, fire, and sword” to me were a poetic allusion to adversity. I never thought to ask: “Which dungeon? What fire? Whose sword?” Until I lived in England. ...read more

Certainly, there are contemporary martyrs who are killed for being Christian. But more and more, contemporary martyrs are being killed for living out their Christianity. ...read more

Read about St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher: two heroic saints who defied a tyrannical king and gave their lives rather than act against their conscience. ...read more

Read Deacon Pedro's reflection on the meaning of Martyrdom. ...read more

In Rome, in Saint Peter’s Square, Pope Francis will canonize the following: Blessed Angelo da Acri, Italian Capuchin priest (1669-1739); Blessed Faustino Miguez Gonzalez, Spanish Piarist priest, founder of the Calasanzian Institute (1831-1925); Blessed Cristobal, Blessed Antonio, Blessed Juan, Martyrs of Tlaxcala: 3 children killed for having embraced the Christian faith in Mexico, in 1527 ...read more

There was much anticipation in the church world for Martin Scorsese’s film adaptation of Shusaku Endo’s historical fiction novel, “Silence”. The movie premiered late last year and made its way to select theaters across Canada in January 2017. The movie  follows two young Portuguese Jesuits to Japan, after they hear that one of their spiritual mentors, ...read more

The letter of Pope Francis sent to the Bishops of the world on December 28, 2016, Feast of the Holy Innocents, Martyrs Dear Brother, Today, on the feast of the Holy Innocents, as the words of the angel to the shepherds still resound in our hearts – “I bring you good news of a great ...read more

History On November 16, 1989 on the campus of the Central American University in San Salvador, six Jesuit priests were pulled from their beds in the middle of the night and executed. The military officers who carried out the killing went unpunished for decades. Five of six Jesuits were Spanish citizens. In 2008 the Spanish ...read more

On Friday evening, November 27, 2015, Pope Francis visited the Munyonyo Martyrs’ Shrine for a meeting with Catechists and Teachers. Below you will find the full text of the Holy Father’s prepared remarks: Greeting to Catechists Kampala, Munyonyo Friday, 27 November 2015 Dear Catechists and Teachers, Dear Friends, I greet you with affection in the ...read more

During his trip to Africa, Pope Francis will land in Entebbe, Uganda on Friday, November 27. It will be the second country he visits during the voyage. As is custom, he will pay a courtesy visit to the President of the Republic and meet with civic authorities and the diplomatic corps. That same evening he ...read more