Introduction
My Background
Hey guys, thanks for checking this out. I’ll get straight to it. I grew up Roman Catholic my entire life. I remember as a young child, I enjoyed being Catholic and had a love for my faith. I even recall telling my grandmother that I wanted to be a priest one day. That didn’t last long. In middle school, I still had some faith. I was an altar server to a very Holy priest, but I started caring about other things in the world. In High School, I was pretty much embarrassed by my faith and only went to Mass because my parents dragged me. I chose St. Sebastian as my Confirmation Saint because I played football and he was the patron saint of athletes (Little did I know how much of an effect he would have on me later in life. I think he actually chose me instead of me choosing him). Shortly after High School I joined the Army, where during my 4 years there, I went to Mass when I felt like it. My Prayer Life was non-existent, and I wanted to live life the way I wanted. I never renounced my Catholic faith, but I was the definition of a Lukewarm Christian. Shortly after the Army, I got married and was pretty much a C&E Catholic (Christmas & Easter). Then I remember my first Christmas Mass I missed. Well if I missed Christmas Mass, then I might as well miss Easter Mass. I completely abandoned my faith.
My Reversion
Later in 2020, my second child was born. Part of being “Culturally Catholic” is celebrating the Baptism of a newborn. However, at this point, I hadn’t been to Church in a couple of years; and I hadn’t been to Confession in over 8 years. I had enough respect for the Church that it would have felt totally wrong to Call the parish, schedule my child’s baptism, do the class, get him baptized and never bother going again. That idea did not sit well with me. I knew I had to go back.
2021, Lent approached, and I decided to participate. I decided I was going to attend Mass every Sunday that Lent, and for 40 days I would give up a grave sin that I had made a regular habit of. I knew I would need God’s help if I wanted to succeed, and Lent was the perfect time to do it. The first Sunday of Lent, I got ready for Mass. My wife was used to seeing me in the house with a t-shirt and basketball short, but that morning, she saw me in jeans and a collared shirt. She asked where I was going, and I said Mass. She asked me why, and I said, irritated, “Because it’s Sunday” (as if I were some pious guy who went all the time). That’s just an example of how far gone I was from the faith. The woman I vowed (in the Catholic Church) to spend my life with, and had 2 children with, was asking me why I was going to Mass.
That Lent, I found a Parish 10-15 minutes away from where I lived. I met one of the holiest priests I would ever meet in my life. I saw a parish of people that had an extreme amount of reverence towards the Eucharist. I saw long confession lines. I heard preaching that was hard and truthful, yet loving and merciful. I saw men (old and young) who were not dragged there by their wives. They were leading their families in the most important way possible. They were there for the Eucharist. They were there for the Sacrifice of the Mass. I saw everything that I missed out on for years. I scheduled an appointment for confession as quickly as I could. I came into full communion with the Faith that I was raised with. I had a love and zeal for the Faith that I had not had since I was a child (probably annoyingly so). I was finally home, back in the Chruch that Christ established himself.
What I’m doing here now. Why Martyrs?
As I learned more about the Church after I returned, I wanted to learn more about the Saints. I found I had a deep love for the Martyrs. Perhaps it was the Army Soldier in me that drew me to them. They were zealous about their faith, all the way until their death. I was also astonished at how many people have died simply for their Faith in Jesus Christ. My goal in this blog is to bring Glory to God, through telling the stories of these ordinary people, who died extraordinary deaths, in His name. These people have changed the world. Why would so many people die if Christianity were false? Why is Christianity the most persecuted religion in the world? The Church lives on the Blood of the Martyrs.
When I was in the Army, I was willing to die for my Country. But would I have died for my faith in Jesus Christ? I live in the United States in the year 2025. The chances of you or I being martyred are slim to none. Though I might not die a martyr (unless God wills it), I hope that I will die with a Martyr’s Faith. I hope to never leave my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. No matter the circumstances. And I hope the same for you reading this. God bless you, and I hope you find fruit in this Blog.
