Army of Martyrs, of Witnesses

Pro Life Boot Camp - Photo by Michele Gress

We are not being called to simply keep the Faith, as difficult as that may seem at times. We are being called to go and make disciples. We are called to lead others, to draw others to Jesus by the witness of our lives. You are called to inspire others to discover the joy of being loved by the only One who can satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts.  What the Church needs today are martyrs! The word martyr means witness. Many people today are not convinced by rhetoric and logic, but are intrigued and inspired by the witness and beauty of the Christian life well-lived.  What Jesus needs today is an army of martyrs, of witnesses, who are prepared to bring the truth and beauty of the Gospel of Jesus into the board room and the class room, into the laboratory and the legislature, into the athletic field and the movie theater, into the neighborhood association and the family living room. Jesus needs today young men and women who are prepared to announce the Gospel, not primarily by words but by the integrity of their lives.
Jesus needs disciples who radiate in their everyday lives the joy and the hope of His Gospel. And when others ask us the source of our hope and joy amidst all of the struggles of life, we need to be prepared to point them, to lead them to Jesus Christ.

 Archbishop Joseph Naumann
Homily at Benedictine College's 2013 Baccalaureate Mass
St. Benedict Abbey Church in Atchison, KS
May 10, 2013

Abp. Naumann listening to Sr. Loredana - Photo by Michele Gress

After becoming the shepherd of Northeast Kansas in 2005, Archbishop Joseph Naumann has called on the faithful to deepen their love for Jesus Christ and participate in the New Evangelization.  When he named me the Director of Evangelization, he expressed his wish for Catholics to be better witnesses of Jesus Christ by being prepared to tell their vocation story of discipleship.  You can find the full text of Archbishop Naumann's homily to the 2013 graduates of Benedictine College here.

Benedictine College is an outstanding treasure of the Church.  They take the call for a New Evangelization very seriously. With a desire to "contribute to the renewal of Catholic culture and freedom of religious expression in America," Benedictine has founded the Gregorian Institute.  The Gregorian Institute publishes a free speech digest, hosts a blog, puts on conferences, and offers a leadership program.