Would You Stand?

Father Mike gave kind of a depressing homily last night.. and on Tuesday-- about the end of the world and the end of the Catholic faith as we know it. It's all dark and gloomy when you think that the church will no longer be able to openly profess their faith. It's all dark and gloomy to think of millions of Catholics being forced to hide their love for God and hide their beliefs. Just as I believe in religious freedom for everyone, I do not believe we should have to fear the loss of our rights to express our faith. I have never once looked down on any person of another faith for professing their beliefs, I do not feel it's fair that someday we will be forced to hide.

Last night, he told us a story of a man in Mexico who gave his life to profess his faith. He hung a sign in his shop on which he hand wrote Viva Christo Rey, Long Live Christ the King. When the police cut out his tongue for speaking those words in public Viva Christo Rey, he pointed up to God. When the police cut off his hands for pointing to God saying Viva Christo Rey and public announcing his faith, he spread his arms and physically turned his body into the cross. They shot him. They killed a man for being strong enough in his faith to profess it out loud and to the world.

Viva Christo Rey. Long Live Christ the King.

That story strikes me. First, because it happened. It happened in Mexico, where a large percentage of the population is Catholic. Yet a man died because he was Catholic. Second, I am left to wonder.. would I be brave enough to do it? Would I be brave enough to stand up and die for my faith? Would you? Even if you're not a Catholic or Christian.. would you stand up for your faith? Would you die for it?

Viva Christo Rey. Long Live Christ the King.
Long live my king.
-H.Eilene