[In the Dioceses of the
United States]
#683A[1]
From the Common
of Martyrs or the Common
of Pastors, texts selected by the author.
Biographical
information about Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro
 |
| "Bl. Agustin Pro at His Execution" Newspaper photo |
Readings and Commentary: [2]
2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14
It happened that seven brothers with their mother were arrested
and tortured with whips and scourges by the king,
to force them to eat pork in violation of God's law.
One of the brothers, speaking for the others, said:
"What do you expect to achieve by questioning us?
We are ready to die rather than transgress the laws of our ancestors."
At the point of death, the second brother said:
"You accursed fiend, you are depriving us of this present life,
but the King of the world will raise us up to live again forever.
It is for his laws that we are dying."
After him the third suffered their cruel sport.
He put out his tongue at once when told to do so,
and bravely held out his hands, as he spoke these noble words:
"It was from Heaven that I received these;
for the sake of his laws I disdain them;
from him I hope to receive them again."
Even the king and his attendants marveled at the young man's courage,
because he regarded his sufferings as nothing.
After he had died,
they tortured and maltreated the fourth brother in the same way.
When he was near death, he said,
"It is my choice to die at the hands of men
with the hope God gives of being raised up by him;
but for you, there will be no resurrection to life."
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Commentary on 2 Mc 7:1-2, 9-14
This selection from the Second Book of Maccabees provides examples of courage in the face of extreme cruelty based upon belief in the resurrection on the last day. This is one of the important theological ideas expounded upon in the book, and provides a framework for our later understanding of the importance of Christ’s sacrifice and promise. The traditional story of the martyrdom of the seven brothers incorrectly identifies them as “the Maccabees.” Their heroism derives from the example of Eleazar (cf. 2 Maccabees 6:28). This selection describes the plight of the six older brothers. The martyrdom of the youngers is described in the vv. 20-41. Each of the replies given by the first six brothers builds on the idea that the just will be saved and those who do evil will be punished.
CCC: 2 Mc 7:9 992; 2 Mc 7:14 992
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Responsorial Psalm:
(From the Common of Martyrs, Third Option)
R. (7) Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler's snare.
Had not the LORD been with us
When men rose up against us,
then would they have swallowed us alive
When their fury was inflamed against us.
R. Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler's snare.
Then would the waters have overwhelmed us;
The torrent would have swept over us;
over us then would have swept
the raging waters.
R. Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler's snare.
Broken was the snare,
and we were freed.
Our help is in the name of the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
R. Our soul has been rescued like a bird from the fowler's snare.
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Commentary on Ps 124:2-3. 4-5, 7-8
The psalm is one of thanksgiving to the Lord for his gift of salvation: salvation from physical enemies and salvation from nature’s fury. The song thanks God who rescues us if we but reach out to him. The final verse, v.8, combined with "Blessed be the name of the LORD - both now and forever." (Psalm 113:2) is a traditional final blessing when Mass is celebrated by a bishop and is called an episcopal or pontifical blessing.
CCC: Ps 124:8 287
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Gospel: (From the Common of Martyrs, 1.)
Jesus said to his Apostles:
"Beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts
and scourge you in their synagogues,
and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake
as a witness before them and the pagans.
When they hand you over,
do not worry about how you are to speak
or what you are to say.
You will be given at that moment what you are to say.
For it will not be you who speak
but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Brother will hand over brother to death,
and the father his child;
children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but whoever endures to the end will be saved."
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Commentary on Mt 10:17-22
Jesus gives his disciples instructions on how to deal with the persecution they are to undergo at the hands of those who do not accept him, especially those in power. His instruction is one that relies on faith that the Father, through the Holy Spirit, will supply the words. There is also a presumption that there will be loss of life. Here the Lord tells us that those who are steadfast in their faith cannot die a spiritual death.
“Jesus does not so much caution his disciples against men, in the sense of declaring mankind (οί άυθϱωποι) to be the natural enemies of his disciple and, hence, of himself. Rather, he appears to be warning them against becoming like the rest of men, against fighting violence with violence rather than with the truth, against reacting to contempt and hatred with contempt and hatred rather than with transformative and imaginative love.” [3]
"Here, the hostility the apostles will face comes into sharp focus. They are being sent out like sheep in the midst of wolves - an image of vulnerability and helplessness before fierce attackers. Yet the apostles are not to be passive when enemies assail them. They are to be as shrewd as serpents, prudently anticipating threats and finding ways to survive. But they must at the same time be as simple as doves. The word for simple means 'unmixed,' suggesting that the apostles' shrewd tactics should be animated by pure motives and single-mindedness for their ministry. Shrewdness should never lead them to seek survival or advantage in a way that compromises their integrity." [4]
CCC: Mt 10:19-20 728; Mt 10:22 161, 1821
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Reflection:
Miguel Augustine Pro
Juárez (1891-1927): One of the great tragedies of the Americas was the
persecution of the Catholic Church by lawless and godless men who controlled
Mexico at the turn of the twentieth century.
It was a time of great unrest as a battle for power took place within
the country and those seeking power saw the Holy Mother Church as a contender
for that power. In the midst of this struggle, Bl. Miguel was born to a middle
class family in Mexico. It is
unfortunate that his parents are not named since it was no doubt their early
training in the faith that inspired the vocation in Bl. Miguel along with his
brothers who helped him in his ministry and his sisters who pursued vocations
as religious during a time when those who publicly practiced the faith were
being actively persecuted.
We hear in the first reading from the Maccabees that seven brothers were all arrested for their faith. Their response: “We are ready to die rather than transgress the laws of our ancestors." Each in turn was tortured and killed. Similarly Bl. Miguel’s brothers were also killed, a close analogy since the official reason for their executions was a criminal offense but in reality it was because they were Catholic. It speaks to the faith of the family and how that faith gives them strength to face even death.
Bl. Miguel throughout his short life demonstrated an unwavering commitment to his vocation and to the service it demanded. He provided guidance to those deprived of a formal church setting and heroically kept faith alive for many when violent attempts were being made to destroy it. And it was not that Bl. Miguel did not know he was facing danger each time he provided the sacraments to the people in Mexico. Truly he knew St. Matthew’s Gospel:
"Beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans.”
When he was taken before the firing squad he asked to pray before they executed him and then he refused the offered blindfold and stood cruciform before them as he was executed. The Holy Spirit provides such strength to her saints.
We remember the heroic virtue of Bl. Miguel on his feast day and ask the Lord for strength that we to might be courageous in our faith when challenged and always remain faithful to our Lord and Savior who also promised: “You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved."
We hear in the first reading from the Maccabees that seven brothers were all arrested for their faith. Their response: “We are ready to die rather than transgress the laws of our ancestors." Each in turn was tortured and killed. Similarly Bl. Miguel’s brothers were also killed, a close analogy since the official reason for their executions was a criminal offense but in reality it was because they were Catholic. It speaks to the faith of the family and how that faith gives them strength to face even death.
Bl. Miguel throughout his short life demonstrated an unwavering commitment to his vocation and to the service it demanded. He provided guidance to those deprived of a formal church setting and heroically kept faith alive for many when violent attempts were being made to destroy it. And it was not that Bl. Miguel did not know he was facing danger each time he provided the sacraments to the people in Mexico. Truly he knew St. Matthew’s Gospel:
"Beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans.”
When he was taken before the firing squad he asked to pray before they executed him and then he refused the offered blindfold and stood cruciform before them as he was executed. The Holy Spirit provides such strength to her saints.
We remember the heroic virtue of Bl. Miguel on his feast day and ask the Lord for strength that we to might be courageous in our faith when challenged and always remain faithful to our Lord and Savior who also promised: “You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved."
[1] From the
Lectionary for Mass Supplement, © 2017 Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New
Jersey.
[2] The readings are
taken from the New American Bible, with the exception of the psalm and its
response which were developed by the International Committee for English in
Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for
private use only.
[3] Fire of Mercy Heart of the Word Volume
I, Erasmo Leiva-Merikakis, Ignatius Press, San Francisco, CA, © 1996 p. 554.
[4] The Gospel of Matthew, © 2010 Curtis Mitch and Edward Sri, Baker Academic, Grand Rapids, MI, p.
145.
