THE POOR MARTYR by M. C. W.

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 30, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 38.

THE POOR MARTYR.

By M. C. W.

The Catholic Mirror of August 31, in speaking of the attitude of the powers of earth generally, and the kingdom of Italy in particular, towards the holy see, says:—

“Though the powers of this world are, to a great degree, apparently in league with the prince of the powers of the air to make the supreme pontiff a prisoner in his own domain, and though even the miserable emperor of Austria has proved lukewarm in devotion to the holy see, if not absolutely craven, what has Leo XIII., after all, to fear? Personally, he can be grieved, insulted, and even killed, much less driven from his palace, and nothing would more consecrate his last days than to suffer as Christ did for the sins of fallen humanity. Other popes have endured all extremities and gained heaven; and the Papacy remains. The present vicar of Jesus Christ would welcome martyrdom as a blessed privilege; and so, what has Crispi and his infidel gang to gain even by violence?”

We do not know, as we read this, which emotion is dominant, pity for the poor deluded souls who swallow all such sentimentalism as gospel truth, or righteous indignation at the arrant blasphemy of this poor, dying mortal. Talk of the individual at the head of that system which has martyred “the whitest of the saints of God,” an individual who disavows not one single act of the persecutions of the centuries of that church over which he stands as vicegerent of the Son of God, but who rather indorses everything done by that system of iniquity,—talk of such an one suffering “as Christ did for the sins of fallen humanity.” We by no means excuse any unlawful or oppressive act of Humbert of Italy, or of Crispi his minister, but if Leo XIII. had power, the history of the past is certain proof that the ashes of Italy’s king and premier would even now be scattered to the winds, or these men would be dying by piecemeal in the dungeon of some Roman inquisitorial palace, while black-robed priests would be hypocritically chanting the Magnificat of the Virgin Mary. Dying for the sins of fallen humanity! Ten thousand deaths would not expiate the sins of the Papacy against humanity. But we can wait. We expect that all these actions of Italy will rouse sympathy for the poor, suffering friend of man at Rome. But whatever triumph Rome may gain, it will be brief.

“Though the mills of God grind slowly, Yet they grind exceeding small; Though with patience he stands waiting, With exactness grinds he all.”

And the Christian can afford to wait. We envy not Rome’s power, Rome’s position, or Rome’s doom. God has spoken in his “more sure word of prophecy” concerning it all. We will cease not to warn others of her work. We would warn her adherents to flee from Babylon, turn to the pure word of God, and live. Her doom is inevitable. Thus speaks Revelation:—

“And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.” “For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.” Rev. 18:21, 5. M. C. W.