Martyrdom: Crown of Christians

The Philippine Church encourages to all Christians to participate in the Red Wednesday campaign of the Aid of the Church in Need (ACN) on November 24, 2021 with the theme: Red without Fear: the Church journeying as one. This theme always encourages to all Christians to share their suffering in all persecuted Christians in the Church. It is through intimacy with the Lord, who revealed himself and giving us the grace to be able to accept the revelation of faith. The faith that we have in Jesus, some realizes through shedding the blood for the sake of that faith in him.

In the Archdiocese of Davao, Archbishop Romulo G. Valles reminded to all parishes, oratories, and Catholic Institutions that the prescribed Liturgy will be the Votive Mass for Persecuted Christians in which can be found in the Roman Missal at page 1058. He continue that if possible that the façade of the Churches, school, and participating institutions are to be illuminated or decorated in red.

This will remind us the heroic participation of all the martyrs in the mission of Jesus Christ. Accordingly, one of the Church father said, the blood of the martyrs is the seed of Christianity; it is certainly that Christians must communicate to every creature the joy of the Gospel and to lead everyone to encounter to Jesus, the one Savior of the world through giving one’s life for the sake of faith.

Martyrdoms are still happening today, even we are now in the twenty-first century, and the witnessing of these martyrs should continue to encourage us to follow more to our Lord. Unhappily, though, many Christians in the Philippines, specifically to us Catholic Christians, are largely unconscious of the pain that is still being endured by our brothers and sisters.

In addition, we are also celebrating the 500 years of Christianity of the Philippines in which the Church and every believer must carry it out joyously, through an existence truly brightened by faith, marked by charity, by service to God and to others, and that can radiate hope. It is always our call and mission to shines in holiness in which all the Christians are being called.

Thus, the celebration of Red Wednesday in the Philippines is an act of commemorating the lives of every Filipinos who are freely give up their life for the faith. As we remembered, the year 2020 of January, the bishops of the Philippine Church officially institutionalized the annual celebration of Red Wednesday in all dioceses. Through this celebration, always aim to assist persecuted Christians around the world who are prevented from living according to their faith

Moreover, in the year 2016, the United Kingdom first organized the Red Wednesday to remember the faithful who heroically give up their lives for the faith. Later, the Philippines Church started to join the campaign in the following year. For every Christian red is a symbol martyrdom and studies have shown that Christians remain the most persecuted faith group in the world, particularly in some part of the world. This is the reason why, the Church buildings and structures across the country were lit in red on November 24 to mark that event.

Lastly, Archbishop Valles, reminded to all Parish Priests and Chaplains to have a special collection which is intended for the continuous support to those Christians who unceasingly experiences persecutions. Furthermore, he requested to submit immediately to the chancery the collections that will be made on that day. (Bro. Soren Abellanosa)