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Most American Catholics are familiar with St. Katharine Drexel, St. John Neumann, St. Kateri Tekakwitha and Ven. Fulton Sheen. But have how many have heard of Bl. Lucas Tristany? Or Ven. Solanus Casey? Or Ven. Theresa Dudzik? Or Servant of God Gwen Coniker? The American Martyrologyhelps the faithful recall the heroic lives and deaths of dozens of men and women of God with strong connections to the United States. Arranged in calendar form, the Martyrology is, in effect, a catalog of national sanctity which assists the faithful to remember those who have died with a reputation for holiness and encourages us to "private devotion toward the Servant of God and the spontaneous spreading of his reputation of holiness or martyrdom and of intercessory power." [Sanctorum Mater, Art. 117]. In the days of the ancient persecutions, local Christians kept the memories of the faithful who suffered and died for Christ. These local records were eventually combined to form general martyrologies—the most famous of which, the Roman Martyrology, is used to this day as an official liturgical book. But the need for local lists never quite faded, and Father Frederick George Holweck (1856-1927), one of America's foremost church historians and hagiographers, was the first to publish such a calendar for the United States over 90 years ago. The new 2015 edition of The American Martyrology features all the Saints, Blesseds, Venerables, Servants of God, and reputed martyrs honored in the U.S. throughout the year. It dramatically expands Holweck's compilation with the dozens of new saints and causes added since then, including not only feasts of the national calendar but also those of the traditional Roman calendar such as St. Valentine and St. Christopher and those of the Ordinariate calendar such as St. Alban, St. Columba, and the English martyrs. Keep this volume handy for quick reference, or read the entries with the included prayers as a daily devotion to honor the saints throughout the year. With rubrics adapted from the traditional office of Prime, and featuring extra prayers for the annual commemoration of family members and loved ones,The American Martyrology is not merely an invaluable historical collection but a wonderful devotional text and a perfect way to help live the liturgical year at home.
Personal narratives are powerful instruments for teaching, both for conveying information and for forming character. The martyrdom accounts preserved in the literature of early Christianity are especially intense and dramatic. However, these narratives are not readily available and are often written in intimidating prose, making them largely inaccessible for the average reader. This introductory text brings together key early Christian martyrdom stories in a single volume, offering new, easy-to-read translations and expert commentary. An introduction and explanatory notes accompany each translation. The book not only provides a vivid window into the world of early Christianity but also offers spiritual encouragement and inspiration for Christian life today.
It can be said, almost without exaggeration, that martyrdom has become one of the most pressing theological issues facing the contemporary world. Since the attack on the World Trade Center in 2001, the world has had to face up to an Islamic manifestation of martyrdom. Martyrdom has a long history; as long as individuals have been dying for their faith or cause, others have been telling and more importantly, interpreting their stories. These martyrologies are essentially conflict stories. Whether a Christian confessing her faith before a bemused Roman governor, or a suicide bomber blowing himself up in a crowed cafe in Jerusalem, the way these stories are recounted - positively or negatively - reflect a wider conflict in which the narrator and his community find themselves. Martyr narratives, whether textual, oral, or even a CNN news report, do more than simply report a death; they also contain the interpretative framework by which that death is understood - again positively or negatively. When the death of a martyr is reported, the way in which that story is told places that death within a larger narrative of conflict, which may be regional, global, or even cosmic. The martyr becomes a symbol of the community's desires and hopes, or for that matter, their terrors and fears, but in either case, the martyr is representative of a larger struggle, and often martyrology contains the vision of how the community envisages final victory over their enemy. This book aims to illuminate the way these conflict stories have been told and function (principally, though not exclusively) within Christian, Jewish, and Islamic communities. Continuum's Guides for the Perplexed are clear, concise and accessible introductions to thinkers, writers and subjects that students and readers can find especially challenging - or indeed downright bewildering. Concentrating specifically on what it is that makes the subject difficult to grasp, these books explain and explore key themes and ideas, guiding the reader towards a thorough understanding of demanding material.