This Sunday, the Church observes All Saints’ Day, and many of those saints were martyrs.
But what is the difference between martyrdom and suicide?
It is the difference between giving and taking.
In suicide, one takes his own life, pretending to be the master of it.
In martyrdom, one realizes that only God is master of his life, and therefore that he cannot hold on to that life at the cost of betraying God. Martyrdom is the very opposite of suicide, because the martyr declares that God alone is Lord of Life, and that being faithful to Him is worth any price, including death.
As we honor the martyrs and all the saints, let’s recommit ourselves to building a world that acknowledges God alone as the Master of life and death.
–Fr. Frank
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