Catholics are called to 'daily martyrdom,' says Pope

By Estefania Aguirre

Catholic News Agency

Pope Francis leads the Bishops of Italy in a solemn Profession of Faith in St. Peter’s Basilica
for their 65th General Assembly May 23, 2013. Credit: Stephen Drsicoll/CNA.

 

Vatican City, Jun 23, 2013 / 10:26 am (CNA/EWTN News).-During his June 23 Angelus reflection, Pope Francis said the faithful are called to follow the example of the martyrs in losing their lives for Christ, even if they do not suffer violence for their faith.

“Both in the past and today, in many parts of the world there are martyrs, both men and women, who are imprisoned or killed for the sole reason of being Christian,” he said, noting that there are more martyrs dying violent deaths in modern times than in the early centuries of the Church.

“But there is also the daily martyrdom, which does not result in death but is also a loss of life for Christ.”
This “daily martyrdom” consists of people “doing their duty with love, according to the logic of Jesus,” said the pontiff from the window of the Apostolic Palace to those gathered in St. Peter’s Square.

He delivered his Angelus comments reflecting on the day's Gospel reading, in which Jesus tells his disciples “whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”

 Read more: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/catholics-are-called-to-daily-martyrdom-says-pope/