When I first think of saints and martyrs, I often think of
people who have lived and died overseas in Europe, Africa or the Middle
East. We have a good reminder this
morning that people have done tremendous deeds for the faith here in our
country, even to the point of shedding their blood. The North American martyrs did so in the north eastern
portions of the United States and the south eastern territories in Canada.
Even
closer to home, we have some amazing witnesses to the faith. Now Venerable Bishop Baraga was the
Great Lakes missionary and Monsignor Joseph Buh the patriarch of our own
Diocese. Both of these men came
from Slovenia to this land as missionaries to plant the seeds of faith. Picture that—only 150 years ago this
place we live had never heard the Gospel!
Once
again, we here Jesus call his disciples friends and it is these men and women who
were “…chosen, destined
in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things
according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the
praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ.”
We
follow the great witnesses of St. Isaac Jogues, St. John and their companions,
as well as men like Venerable Baraga and Monsignor Buh. We, too, are called friends of Christ and we strive in our
lives to give Christ everything.
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