We
Are ALL Martyrs in a Land of Exile – Courage and Blood Needed to
Save the Church in Peril
Ecstasy
date September 19, 1878
“Dear
children of God, may peace reign in the deepest realm of your
souls. I am Saint John, Pope, who died in prison.
I
was exiled for the cause of God and was tormented by horrific
tortures in the prison where I gave my soul to God ... I suffered
bitter pain because I would not deny the name of Jesus Christ and for
supporting the dogma of the Holy Trinity and the infallibility of the
Church.
Since
my martyrdom, many have followed me and won the same palm (of
martyrdom) as I. After wearing chains, beaten and denied food, I was
not at the end of my martyrdom. I underwent a second examination by
the Emperors and their servants. Nothing would shake my faith. I
kept my soul in the Holy Name of God and at the same time, the
thought of the Holy Church in exile during the siege. These two
thoughts made me accept death. After the interrogation I was beaten
and subjected to the most terrible tests. It was there that I would
consume my martyrdom after long days of exile. I was bound hand and
foot and hung by the neck with a chain after (receiving) hard blows.
It was in this prison of exile and that my soul took its flight to
see its eternal reward.
Now,
a word on behalf of Our Lord.
We
are all martyrs on earth, each in the manner determined by the Divine
Will. We are placed in a land of exile, which today
it is more than ever before because they want to banish the
name of God, Religion and the Church. They want
Christians to collapse under the law … Christians,
prepare your weapons, that is to say, your courage, because the
threats are great. The blow that is borne will be terrible by its
repercussions (effects) ... The Church is in
peril ... It will take courage and blood to save the Temple of God
... Our Lord gives you a heavy cross, these are the crosses
that will spare you from the great blow ... Be happy to carry the
Cross of our Divine Master ...”
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This
Tuscan saint was pope from 523 to 526. In 526, he went to
Constantinople on an
embassy
from King Theodoric of the Ostrogoths. On his return, Theodoric threw
Pope John into prison on suspicion of having conspired with the
emperor Justin. However, the King was an adherent to the Arian heresy
that recognised the human nature of Christ, but not His divinity. No
doubt, his Arian beliefs made him persecute Pope John. The Arian
heresy caused great havoc in Christendom although condemned by the
Council of Nicaea in 325. Catholics loyal to Rome and St. John's
teachings were long persecuted by hostile kings and emperors. The
Ostrogoths and Visigoths who occupied Italy and Spain were eventually
drawn away from this heresy by the Apostles of the Dark Ages. Saint
John, Pope, died in prison. His feast day is May 27.
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