Protomartyrs of Rome |
Feast: June 30 |
executions during the reign of Nero, they are called the Neronian Martyrs, and
they are also termed “the Protomartyrs of Rome,” being honored by the site in the
Vatican City called the Piazza of the Protomartyrs. These early Christians were
disciples of the Apostles, and they endured hideous tortures and ghastly deaths
following the burning of Rome in the infamous fire of 62. Their dignity in
suffering, and their fervor to the end, did not provide Nero or the Romans with
the public diversion desired. Instead, the faith was firmly planted in the
Eternal City.
Serious note with humility and charity we are still in these times my brothers and sisters. It has never changed as I heard today in the sermon that even now in the 20th and 21st Centuries we have had grave persecution.
Our brothers and sisters are international the Catholic Church is recognized universally hence what the word Catholic means. They, our people suffer throughout the world in any given time in both the right and left lungs of the East and Western churches.
Today we are seeing more and more that our Lord’s church is subtly coming back to the fold as He requested, “That it would be one.” Peace be to all and pray to our Mother that her Son protects those and is solace everywhere in the world to the persecuted church.