Ten seconds into this video and you think you’ve seen it before: the sound of firearms, of men shouting in an all too familiar language that we’ve heard over and over again in news sound bites.
Twenty seconds into this video and you’re “sympathetic” towards the woman’s plea, “isn’t it bad over there.”
Thirty seconds in and you’re baffled by the image of the whole room, and you’re struggling to comprehend the whole scenario. The pain almost becomes more real by the contrast between the woman and those who are standing around silent; “sympathy,” you understand, isn’t the proper response.
Forty seconds in… “Save us! In the name of humanity! Save us!” and you realize, though you thought you’d seen it before – and maybe you had – this was something that you could not turn away from.
That was certainly my experience of this video, and I hope, in some way, it is yours too.
Guilty Silence
The words of Msgr. Mirkis really hit me hard, especially in light of the way that I responded to those first forty seconds. He was describing me, and my complacency in thinking that I’d seen it before:
“Everything becomes normal… The first time shock, but the third time – normal.”
But the persecution of others should have never become normal. It’s an outrage, and it’s right that his response to this attitude is anger.
And yet the video remains so hopeful!
We hear how the persecution is showing the Christians just what a valuable treasure it is that they have. And there’s a call to stand firm, to be courageous, and to profess the faith with more commitment and zeal than they have in the past. It’s quite remarkable and words escape me.
For our part, the video calls for our prayers. And we must pray! For this is how we must respond in the very first instant to that woman’s cry for help, and this is how we break out of the normalization of their persecution. We must pray fervently, and we must pray with a simple and profound trust in the reality of the power that our prayers possess.
But what do we pray for? An end to the persecution? The conversion of the persecutors to Christ? We all have our own prayer of the heart, but let us pray as intercessors for our Christian brothers and sisters, in filial trust in God, and with steadfast perseverance in love.
This is still going on today. Right now. And so I invite you, having read this article, to stop and pray now: set down your device, turn off the radio, and pray for our brothers and sisters, for we must not stay silent.
- The Solemnity Of The Most Holy Body And Blood Of Christ: Reflection
Facebook Pinterest Gmail LinkedIn Print Friendly Jesus said to the Jewish crowds: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this… Read more: The Solemnity Of The Most Holy Body And Blood Of Christ: Reflection - Eucharist And Sacred Heart: Source Of Mission And Love
Facebook Pinterest Gmail LinkedIn Print Friendly A central doctrine of Catholicism is the belief that the bread and wine consumed at Mass become truly Christ: his body, blood, soul, and divinity. While this truth is celebrated every Sunday, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ offers a heightened focus through liturgy… Read more: Eucharist And Sacred Heart: Source Of Mission And Love - A Catholic Guide To June
Facebook Pinterest Gmail LinkedIn Print Friendly June Liturgical Living For Catholics Links to purchase: Prayer: Oxygen for the Soup, Eucharist Ring by Darling & Divine, Mary and Jesus by Leanne Bowen Links to purchase: Saintly Heart ABC Pray & Play Puzzle, Sacred Heart of Jesus: Devotion to Jesus’ Heart for Children, St. Anthony Kids Socks… Read more: A Catholic Guide To June - 21 Social Media Posts For June: The Month Of The Sacred Heart Of Jesus
Facebook Pinterest Gmail LinkedIn Print Friendly Let’s flood social media with the Sacred Heart of Jesus! Did you know that all of Catholic-Link.org’s content is free to share on social media and in print? We only ask that you don’t edit our work – please keep our logo visible – and when possible, provide a… Read more: 21 Social Media Posts For June: The Month Of The Sacred Heart Of Jesus - Walk To Mary, “America’s Mini-Camino,” Marks 13th Anniversary Of Building Community And Connection Around Mary
Facebook Pinterest Gmail LinkedIn Print Friendly When Bishop David L. Ricken of Green Bay opened Adele Brice’s cause for sainthood earlier this year, his announcement certainly contributed to a record-breaking number of registrants for the Walk to Mary Pilgrimage, with over 10,000 pilgrims walking from around the world. Adele Brice was the visionary of the National… Read more: Walk To Mary, “America’s Mini-Camino,” Marks 13th Anniversary Of Building Community And Connection Around Mary
