This oil painting is titled "The Christian Martyrs" by mid-19th century French artist Gustave Dore.
In the Anglican Communion, the communion of saints includes everyone who has tried or is trying to follow the teachings of Christ. Anglican Feast Days celebrate men and women for their bravery, insights, contributions, and faith. Last week we celebrated All Saints Day, followed by All Souls Day.
This week 8th November our altar is still white, why? This week represents the Octave Day of All Saints, specially set aside for all Anglican Martyrs and other Saints.
Saints have been talked about on our blog in the past. All religions have them, they are people recognised within their tradition as having fulfilled the highest aspirations of religious teaching.
In Christianity Saints are those whose surrender to God's love is so generous an approach to the total surrender of Jesus that the Church recognises them as heroes and heroines worthy to be held up for our inspiration as role models to encourage the believer in us.
What then is a Christian Martyr?
They are a person who endures great suffering on behalf of their belief and willingly suffers death rather than renounce his or her religion.
They are a person who endures great suffering on behalf of their belief and willingly suffers death rather than renounce his or her religion.
Saints are our role models. They are not Gods in their own right, but rather imperfect people like us, who manage to shine the light of God and do amazing things through their faith, and the gifts and grace they are given through the mercy of God.
So if you are doing so much wonderful work for God and He is shining through you, what possible good is there in death, won't that cut short the good that is happening?
Saints are our role models, so are the Martyrs. They have an amazing message for us through their dedication and trust. Their belief and faith is so strong and they are so dedicated to God that they are willing to die rather than deny Him.
Saints are our role models, so are the Martyrs. They have an amazing message for us through their dedication and trust. Their belief and faith is so strong and they are so dedicated to God that they are willing to die rather than deny Him.
We are to place God first in our lives and while that is easy to do when everything is going right for us, it isn't so simple a choice when things become disastrous. Our natural instinct is to live. The idea of enduring avoidable pain and death holds fear for most people. Jesus was our ultimate example of how to face martyrdom. He died on the cross for our sins. His trust and love of God outweighed his pain or fear and He knowingly accepted his sacrificial role. Christian Martyrs, like our Saints are imperfect people too, just like us. They have been placed in the ultimate test of faith.
In our lives, we may be comforted with the knowledge that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses that help us to run the race set before us. Saints and martyrs are not superhuman men and women but sinners just like me and you. We pray that we will never walk in their final steps of the martyrs, but If ever we are placed in the situation of choosing our life or renouncing God, we pray that we have the strength that they have demonstrated.
The following links list Anglican Saints:
Join us for Anglican Catholic Holy Communion / Mass on Sunday 8th November at 11am.
Celebrate the Octave Of All Saints offering prayer and worship to God.
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