Fr. John Hardon on the Martyrdom of Witness

When I was a kid, I was convinced I had come up with the word "Rad." That is, I was the first one to use it, and everyone was just copying me. Of course, this wasn't the case. But it's funny how we can sometimes fall into the trap of thinking that something we are going through is totally unique; that no one in the history of civilization have felt what we have felt, have experienced love as deep as the love we have experienced, or have shouldered as much injustice as we have shouldered.

That's why it's great to hang around older people of another generation, because they know for a fact that there is really nothing new under the sun. They can smile knowingly (or maybe put us in our place) when we act as if we are the first ones to fall in love, experience heartache, or discover an eternal truth.

The author of the letter to the Hebrews notes that they "have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood" in the fight against sin" (Heb 12:4). One thing that I am a baby in is suffering for my faith. It is new for me. When I experience a little discomfort, a little malignment, I think I am the first and only one to have experienced it. And I am taken aback. Why is this happening? Does this mean I'm off track and need to change course?

The letter goes on, though, to assure the believer that such suffering of paternal discipline is for the greater good:

"It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness" (Heb 12: 7-11).

After some discouraging correspondances in the past couple days, and feeling rather foolish, I started poking around trying to make sense of my dejection. I was reading the words of Servant of God Fr. James Hardon, S.J., who spoke about a "Martyrdom of Witness," a term I had never heard before. The bolded sections really spoke to me:

"We still have one more type of martyrdom to reflect on, and it is, in a way, the most pervasive of all because no follower of Christ can escape it. This is the martyrdom of witness.  

What do we mean by martyrdom of witness and how does it differ from the other two? It differs from them in that, even in the absence of active opposition--the imitation of Christ must always face passive opposition. From whom? From those who lack a clear vision of the Savior or who, having had it, lost their former commitment to Christ. All that we have seen about the martyrdom by violence applies here too, but the method of opposition is different. Here the firm believer in the Church's teaching authority; the devoted servant of the papacy; the convinced pastor who insists on sound doctrine to his flock; the dedicated religious who want to remain faithful to their vows of authentic poverty, honest chastity, and sincere obedience; the firm parents who are concerned about the religious and moral training of their children and are willing to sacrifice generously to build and care for a Christian family--natural or adopted--such persons will not be spared also active criticism and open opposition. But they must especially be ready to live in an atmosphere of coldness to their deepest beliefs.  

Sometimes they would almost wish the opposition were more overt and even persecution would be a welcome change. It is the studied indifference of people whom they know and love, of persons in their own natural or religious family, of men and women whose intelligence they respect and whose respect they cherish.  

This kind of apathy can be demoralizing and, unless it finds relief, can be devastating. To continue living a Christ-like life in this kind of environment is to practice the martyrdom of witness. Why witness? Because it means giving testimony to our deep religious convictions although all around us others are giving their own example to the contrary. It means giving witness twice over: once on our own behalf as the outward expression of what we internally believe and once again on behalf of others whose conduct is not only different from ours but contradicts it.  

Wherein lies the martyrdom? It lies in the deprivation of good example to us on the part of our contemporaries, and in the practice of Christian virtue in loneliness, because those who witness what we do are in the majority--numerically or psychologically--and we know they are being challenged and embarrassed by the testimony. We witness to them, indeed, but they are not pleased to witness who we are, what we stand for, what we say, or what we do.  

Notwithstanding all of this, however, it behooves us to look at the positive side of the picture. We must remind ourselves that this witness of ours is not so sterile as we may suppose; quite the contrary. Although we may be, or at least feel, often quite alone, we are not alone at all. Not infrequently our severest critics can become our strongest admirers. In any case, witness that we give by living up to the conviction of our Faith is surely demanding on human nature. That is why we call it martyrdom. But it is a witness to the truth and God's grace is always active in the hearts of everyone whose path we cross."

I think of those who bear in suffering staying true to their vows, even when their spouse has betrayed them through adultery or divorce. I think of those who have publicly stood up to enemies of the Faith and put their reputations and jobs on the line in doing so. I think of those who "proclaim Christ with their lips" and look like fools in the culture as a result, holy fools. I think of those who have converted--from Protestantism, from Islam, from Judaism--to the Faith who no longer have a home, who have lost friends and support systems, and suffer in isolation. I think of the Mother of God, whose heart breaks at the ingratitude of men, whose son bled for those who shrug with indifference.

Rather than being discouraged, though, we should take heart when the barometer of trial records such readings, for maybe we are closer in the footsteps of Christ than we previously thought. It is a good sign, and should serve as encouragement.

"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.  Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler;  but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.  For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?  And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner?  Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right." (1 Peter 4:12-19) 

This is the age of martyrs. They are being formed all around you, and by their witness they are building up the Church. You may even be one of them.

There is no room for lukewarmness today, a vile prospect when cast in the shadow of the Cross. I would encourage you that even if you are not shedding blood or dying physically as a result of your witness, recognize that the suffering that comes with following Christ is a cause for great joy, and is a great privilege, for "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me" (Mt 5:11).

To share even a little in what those great men and women have gone through to witness to Christ without reserve...well, such a beating would do a tender snowflake like me some good.


"You will be hated by all because of My name, but the one who endures to the end, he will be saved." (Mk 13:13)