Suffering: A Prolonged Martyrdom
The martyrdom, which the tyrants gave the Christians of the first centuries, has finished. We are reserved a martyrdom that is hidden and more prolonged … Hence, comfort yourself with the thought of pleasing God by suffering everything as God wills. (OCL, I, 258, p. 258)
St. Vincent Pallotti viewed sufferings of daily life as a prolonged martyrdom. He said that the martyrdom which involved physical suffering and death in defense of Christian faith inflicted by the Roman kings of the early centuries, had come to an end. But for the people of the present time, God has kept in store a different type of martyrdom which is hidden and prolonged. This perception of St. Vincent requires every Christian of the present time to live his life in martyrdom. The troubles and pains of daily life are not to be viewed as burdens that one has to carry, but rather they must be seen as ways through which a Christian is called to live out his faith and commitment to God. The sufferings of daily life are not to be shunned, but must be embraced with great inner joy for they are God- given opportunities to live a person’s Christian faith authentically. Hence, St. Vincent calls every Christian not to die as a martyr, but live as a martyr. Therefore, the type of martyrdom God has kept for the people of the present time does not bring their physical death, but rather it makes them walk the path of suffering which Jesus himself walked as a human person in this world. Since a person is called to live out his sufferings in the spirit of martyrdom, he must accept them with patience and live them joyfully.
Do I view my daily sufferings as hidden and prolonged martyrdom? Do I recognize that accepting and living my suffering makes me a true martyr for the kingdom of God? Do I acknowledge my daily sufferings as God- given opportunities to live my Christian faith authentically? Do I patiently accept and joyfully live my suffering?
We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. (II Cor. 4: 8 – 9)