|
At the end of the second millennium, the Church has once again
become a Church of martyrs. The persecutions of believers -priests,
Religious and laity-has caused a great sowing of martyrdom in
different parts of the world. The witness to Christ borne even
to the shedding of blood has become a common inheritance of Catholics,
Orthodox, Anglicans and Protestants…In our own century the
martyrs have returned, many of them nameless,
|
 |
 |
|
"unknown soldiers" as it were of God's great
cause. As far as possible, their witness should not be lost to the
Church. As was recommended in the Consistory, the local Churches
should do everything possible to ensure that the memory of those
who have suffered martyrdom should be safeguarded, gathering the
necessary documentation. This gesture cannot fail to have an ecumenical
character and expression. Perhaps the most convincing form of ecumenism
is the ecumenism of the saints and of the martyrs. |
THE
MARTYROLOGY OF THE CHURCH IN 2001