Rome, Italy, Mar 5, 2007 / 10:48 am
The Missionary Youth Movement of the Italian Pontifical Missionary Works has published a pamphlet entitled, “Murdered Missionaries: Hope for the World,” in order to mark the 15th Day of Prayer and Fasting for martyred missionaries, which will take place on March 24.
The movement notes in its pamphlet that “before a world that is ever more fearful of the future and before men and women who are no longer capable of raising their eyes and looking above, the slain missionaries invite us to be even stronger in the faith, to believe that a new humanity is possible, to hope for a better future.”
“The martyrs give us strength to continue because they are men and women who follow Christ and have shown that forgiveness and love are stronger than hatred, because with their sacrifices they show us that the Lord continues resurrected and alive, overcoming evil and death,” the pamphlet states.
“Without the witness of missionaries,” it continues, “the world would be poorer and more desolate, it would be even more difficult to have hope because the martyrs shine like the stars and with their testimony they illuminate the path of humanity towards the light that is Christ.”
“A life spent in love can transform consciences and lives. Rather than inspiring sadness, martyrdom in the Church is experienced as a source of strength, energy and hope for continuing down the same path that Christ followed,” the pamphlet emphasizes.
The document also includes various suggestions for celebrating Eucharistic Adoration, the Way of the Cross and prayer vigils, as well as for making visits to the sick, offering one’s sufferings for the missions, donating blood to save lives and providing shelter for one day for a poor person or a foreigner.
The Italian group’s website can be found at: http://www.mgmoperemissionarie.com/vis_news.php?id_art=46