Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions
June 3
Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions, Martyrs Memorial Sir 51:12cd-20/Mk 11:27-33 (352).
https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/saints/charles-lwanga-joseph-mkasa-martyrs-of-uganda-441
CATHOLICISM SAINTS STS. CHARLES LWANGA, JOSEPH MKASA, MARTYRS OF UGANDA
*For those of us who think that the faith and zeal of the early Christians died out as the Church grew more safe and powerful through the centuries, the martyrs of Uganda are a reminder that persecution of Christians continues in modern times, even to the present day.
A sermon by Pope Paul VI
The glory of the martyrs – a sign of rebirth
Lwanga senior and the other Christians who accompanied him in death were canonized on 18 October 1964 by Pope Paul VI during the Vatican II. “To honor these African saints, Paul VI became the first reigning pope to visit sub-Saharan Africa when he toured Uganda in July 1969, a visit that included a pilgrimage to the site of the martyrdom at Namugongo.” Below you have an excerpt of his homily.
The African martyrs add another page to the martyrology – the Church’s roll of honour – an occasion both of mourning and of joy. This is a page worthy in every way to be added to the annals of that Africa of earlier times which we, living in this era and being men of little faith, never expected to be repeated.
In earlier times there occurred those famous deeds, so moving to the spirit, of the martyrs of Scilli, of Carthage, and of that “white robed army” of Utica commemorated by Saint Augustine and Prudentius; of the martyrs of Egypt so highly praised by Saint John Chrysostom, and of the martyrs of the Vandal persecution. Who would have thought that in our days we should have witnessed events as heroic and glorious? Who could have predicted that to the famous African confessors and martyrs such as Cyprian, Felicity, Perpetua and – the greatest of all – Augustine, we would one day add names so dear to us as Charles Lwanga and Matthias Mulumba Kalemba and their 20 companions? Nor must we forget those members of the Anglican Church who also died for the name of Christ.
https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=35
He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
Eph 2:17–18