Christian martyrs

Polycarp’s was among the first recorded Christian martyrdoms. His steadfast obedience to Christ was a powerful testimony, an inspiration not only to the church he pastored in Smyrna (modern Turkey), but to Christians throughout the centuries.

Martyrs chrétiens entrant à l'amphithéâtre/ Christian martyrs going into the amphitheatre by Francois-Leon Benouville (French, b. 1821 - d. 1859).

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Saint Perpetua was a Roman noblewoman martyred for her Christian faith. By writing her own account, she ensured her story would live on.

By 1597, Christianity in Japan was a relatively small but growing religion, with estimates of around 300,000 Catholics in the country. However this was met with various political and social complications, as the shogunate was worried about colonialism from Christian European powers and the...

maertyrer

Today is the feast of eight missionaries who were martyred in North America in the 1640s, and canonized in 1930. Among them is St Isaac Jogues SJ, from Orleans in France, was the first priest to enter New York, and he preached the Faith in Canada. He had been captured and enslaved by the Iroquois, during which time several of his fingers were eaten or burned off! Pope Urban VII gave him the very exceptional privilege of celebrating Mass, which the mutilated condition of his hands had made…