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When we are called to Christ, our lives are transformed. We may experience healing, profound joy, a fresh perspective on the world, a new appreciation for loved ones, a desire to grow in virtue, and much more. We also might find that we now face certain kinds of opposition and even persecution.
Don’t be mistaken. When you take up the cross, you join an ongoing war. For many throughout history this has meant giving up their lives as martyrs. No matter what, it always means giving up our lives as so-called “white martyrs.”
Our most recent chat stemmed from a new video. The Seventh Crown — Martyrs of the Visitation (released November 2024 about martyrs of the Visitation religious order. The video follows the incredible and heroic story of seven sisters in Madrid in 1936, who suffered under a time of extreme anti-Catholicism and earned the crown of martyrdom.)
Explore with our chatters this profound reality of the Christian faith, and explore what it means to die for Christ, even if you are not actually being killed.
And check out our Living Jesus Chat Room of the Visitation Sisters this Sunday at 7:30 pm ET. Each week we read a passage of St. Francis de Sales and then gather great insights and sharing.
Question: What do you think leads to anti-Catholic sentiment in society?
Sherry: The enemy.
Denise: I agree.
Sherry: Lack of prayer. Poor understanding or lack of understanding of the Catholic faith. Being afraid of the power of the church. Like Herod was in a way.
Visitation Sister: Some kind of prejudice?
Anna: Anti-Catholic… many reasons: 1. Spiritual warfare, 2. Disobedience to God’s word.
Sherry: Loss of understanding of God. The underlying truth, that God is God, and we are not.
Denise: Conversion so needed, a grace from God.
Anna: Counter cultural to material atheism. So pervasive in our society.
Sherry: I agree.
Visitation Sister: And it can lead to murder and martyrdom.
Question: There are places today where people’s lives are at risk for being Christian, but in other parts of the world, persecution comes in the form of a “white martyrdom.” Discuss how faith is the target of persecution in this manner.
Denise: White martyrdom is not violent, it is verbal persecution. I think it is still violence in a way.
The Seventh Crown — Martyrs of the Visitation, with English subtitles (released November 2024)
Sherry: Here in Canada, we had a new law a couple of years ago.
Denise: What is the law?
Sherry: Christian organizations – who had in their bylaws, that they do not support homosexuality as a godly lifestyle were cut off from any government support.
Anna: Faith is seen as not accepting the behavior of all… people see this as persecution, yet they do not accept differences in beliefs.
Rebecca: Hi everyone. Telephone call shortened my time left for the movie. Just finished watching it. 200 more views than when you reported, Sister!
Visitation Sister: Pretty powerful for a short film.
Denise: Film so well done.
Sherry: As for the movie, I got a prayer booklet from an Austrian as the Visitandine sister – they are novena prayers with these seven sisters. I found the sisters so beautiful in the movie.
Visitation Sister: Have you used the novena?
Sherry: To be honest, I never finished it. I feel horrible just writing that down now.
Visitation Sister: That’s ok, not the right time for it.
Sherry: ??
Rebecca: It seems we are now in the age of martyrs.
Sherry: How so, Rebecca?
Rebecca: There are more martyrs now than in the early church.
Visitation Sister: Interesting about white martyrdom as it reminds me of St Jane’s martyrdom of love somehow.
Sherry: Yes, Sister, I was hoping we would talk about the martyrdom of love. I just read about it again yesterday. She spoke about it. On the feast of St. Basil…. Is it to stand in the tension of so desperately wanting to be united with God in eternity. But to find daily the yes for life here on earth still?
Visitation Sister: St Basil and St Gregory were very close, but they had some kind of falling out as friends for a while. Could be that. Also, could be the dependency on others that needs to break so one can belong fully to God.
Sherry: Hmm... Interesting.
Anna: That makes sense. Detachment.
Visitation Sister: But as for white martyrdom, I think Rebecca has a point: lots of martyrs today.
Visitation Sister: Believers are witnesses and are often ridiculed.
Denise: I am being separated from those in my family.
Visitation Sister: For faith?
Denise: But I trust God and believe this is for his plan. I’m certain my faith is the biggest part of it.
Sherry: When we were discerning if God is really calling us into the Catholic Church, I remember a time when I had to give my yes to persecution. Cause I knew it is so easy to hide in the Protestant church. But as Catholics we will be visible targets.
Sherry: Also... I think it is smart to memorize scripture. If we carry it in our hearts, no one can ever take that away from us.
Denise: I agree, Sherry, and always the best way to respond.
Rebecca: More than ridiculed, believers often are affected by injustices directed against them, especially if they openly express their beliefs. But my statement refers to red martyrdom — more than during the first 200 years of the church. Not sure where I read the statistics.
Guest: Detachment and trust in the Lord and with the grace of God help to deal with persecution.
Sherry: I remember once sitting in a college course on diversity. The teacher found herself so incredibly tolerant. Every example she brought in this course, everyone was against the Catholic Church – she swore with the name of our Lord in class. Plus – she made us all do indigenous practices without asking. I talked to her at the end of the course and said... “If I would wear a muslim veil – you would not dare talking in class about Allah like you did about my God”. She was shocked and said no one had ever talked to her like this. Well, I thought, it was about time. By the way, I was not rude or loud, I was just very determined.
Rebecca: Good for you, Sherry!
Visitation Sister: You are strong and courageous.
Denise: I need to become more assertive, not rude but so much love I have for their souls. I will pray to be more like that, Sherry.
Sherry: I try not to defend myself but my God.
Question: Why is it helpful to learn the stories of martyrs?
Sherry: It helps us to embrace suffering… generally.
Denise: They are our teachers.
Sherry: It reminds us very clearly that we are here to serve God, even to death, and not that God has to serve us. He already did that anyway with his death.
Anna: I am inspired by their love of God, courage, perseverance and detachment… give me hope that I too can be a witness.
Sherry: As Salesians I think we are encouraged to see a form of martyrdom by gentleness or meekness.
Denise: The chastisement we experience may get stronger.
Sherry: The holding back of power – and coming in vulnerable in a situation is for me a form of martyrdom. In daily life.
Visitation Sister: Like mortification, Sherry?
Sherry: I guess. Yes. A dying to oneself. Which is a very powerful witness too. I think it is a form of grace too.
Question: Is martyrdom something we should aspire to?
Rebecca: Perseverance is.
Sherry: I really want to encourage all of you to watch the movie "A Hidden Life” – a biography of blessed Franz Jaegerstaetter. From Austria. Such a good movie!.
Denise: Thank you.
Visitation Sister: I hope that if I am ever in that situation, I accept the grace.
Denise: Yes.
Sherry: What do you think happened to the sister who ran away in the movie?
Visitation Sister: She gave herself up and was martyred. 5 days later.
Sherry: I know. She did in the end. But why did she run away? Is that what you would call not accepting grace?
Visitation Sister: Panicked I think, divine providence, actually.
Denise: Their crucifix hit with a bullet was very powerful.
Sherry: Peter and I talked, and we said that sometimes the body just reacts. I agree. God has used her last days for others.
Denise: Do you think the mother that visited sisters, later, this was her daughter?
Sherry: You mean the mother of Sr. Cecilia? But – she only said that she saw the material in this box.
Denise: She recognized the sister’s cross.
Visitation Sister: Since it was not in English it was not always easy to follow the translation, especially if you never read the book about them.
Sherry: Oh. There is a book? I did not know that.
Visitation Sister: Yes. Not online. It is called, And They Gave Their Lives. I think Toledo Visitation translated it from Spanish. Originally by Sr Martina Lopez.
Sherry: I will try to research.
Sherry: Well, thank you for the invitation to watch this short movie. Peter and I found it very interesting.
Visitation Sister: Pray they get canonized.
Sherry: May your life and the lives of all the other Visitandines be sheltered, though, from persecution.
Visitation Sister: Thank you!
Sherry: Sister... I have never been told of any church martyrs. I started reading about some when I reverted to Catholicism. The movie “The Mission” was probably my first exposure to modern day martyrdom.
Visitation Sister: I never saw that one.
Sherry: I am very sensitive; I have to be careful too. How much I expose myself to these hard themes.
Sherry: Oh... You would love that movie... It is a classic. About a Jesuit order amongst wild tribes, on a mission. Oh, there are amazing scenes in this movie.
Visitation Sister: And reading vs images on film have different effects.
Sherry: Yes. Movies are even harder than reading, I find.
If you enjoyed this article, why not join our Living Jesus Chat Room of the Visitation Sisters. Join us at 7:30 p.m. ET each Sunday! We read a passage of St. Francis de Sales and then gather great insights and sharing!
Kevin J. Banet is a journalist and publicist. He provides marketing for religious communities, non-profits and healthcare services. Kevin and his family live in the Chicago area. His website is VocationPromotion.com.
