During the General Audience Pope Francis spoke about how the martyrs of the Church are examples of Christ, who also gave his life out of self-sacrifice and love.
As such, he said that 'every Christian is a 'martyr,â? a witness to the sure hope that faith inspires. The martyrs who even today lay down their lives for the faith do so out of love.â?
SUMMARY OF CATECHESIS IN ENGLISH
Dear Brothers and Sisters: In our continuing catechesis on Christian hope, we now look to the example of the martyrs. Their hope gave them the strength even to die for their faith in Christ. The Lord himself warned his followers that, in proclaiming the Kingdom of God, they would encounter opposition and hostility in this world of sin and injustice. Jesus asks his disciples to proclaim the Gospel by their lives of detachment from wealth and power, by their rejection of the spiral of hatred, violence and retaliation, and by their trust in His triumph over the power of sin and death.
As his followers, we know that the Lord will never abandon us. By imitating the example of His own self-sacrifice and love, we demonstrate our faith and hope in Him and we become His witnesses before the world. In this sense, every Christian is a 'martyrâ?, a witness to the sure hope that faith inspires. The martyrs who even today lay down their lives for the faith do so out of love. By their example and intercession, may we become ever more convincing witnesses, above all in the events of our daily lives, to our undying hope in the promises of Christ.
I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in todayâ??s Audience, particularly the groups from England, Scotland, Wales, Sweden, Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, the Philippines and the United States of America. I especially greet the participants in the Conference for the promotion of the new Programme of Priestly Formation, with the assurance of my prayers for their important ministry. Upon all of you, and your families, I invoke joy and peace in our Lord Jesus Christ.
