On Saturday the Church observes the Memorial of the Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist.
In his Treatise on the Love of God, Francis de Sales wrote: "All the martyrs died for divine love.
When we say that many of them died for the faith, we must not imply that it was for a 'dead faith' but rather for a living faith, that is, faith animated by charity. Moreover, our confession of faith is not so much an act of intellect and faith as an act of the will and love of God.
For this reason, on the day of the passion the great St. Peter preserved faith in his soul but lost charity, since he refused in words to admit as Master him whom in his heart he acknowledged to be such. But there were other martyrs who expressly died for charity alone: such was the Savior's Great Precursor (St. John the Baptist) who suffered martyrdom because he gave fraternal correction..." (Book 7, Chapter 10, page 41)The great example of Jesus' "Great Precursor" raises a question for each of us, be we martyrs or not. How powerfully - and convincingly - do we give witness to others with a "living faith," that is, one "animated by charity?"
(Rev) Michael S. Murray,
OSFSDirector De Sales Spirituality Center
"Practical Paths to Holiness"
www.oblates.org/spirituality
(reprinted with permission)
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