Common of Martyrs — Generic prayer for those who gave their life for the faith

Martyr, in Greek martys, means witness. The Tradition of the Church, from the time of St Ignatius of Antioch († 107), recognises in martyrdom the supreme witness of the truth of the faith, the full conformation to Christ crucified, and a source of fruitfulness for the Church: «the blood of the martyrs is the seed of Christians», wrote Tertullian in the 3rd century (Apologeticum 50). The Catechism of the Catholic Church (nn. 2473-2474) teaches that the martyr «bears witness to Christ who died and rose, to whom he is united by charity. He bears witness to the truth of the faith and of Christian doctrine. He endures death through an act of fortitude». This prayer may be prayed on any memorial of a martyr in the Calendar, ancient or modern (cf. the Modern Martyrs category in this Lumen).

Lord God, source of all fortitude, who gave to your Martyrs the grace to confess Christ even unto the shedding of blood, overcoming in the weak the violence of the persecutors by the invincible strength of your Spirit: grant to all of us, who venerate their memory on this day, the grace to follow in their footsteps in daily witness, and — should you ever require it — also at the hour of the supreme witness.

Through the intercession of all the Martyrs of the Church, from the first centuries to our days, strengthen the Christians persecuted today in any corner of the Earth; convert the persecutors; console those who are orphaned by the death of their own for the name of Christ; and make us understand that each drop of blood shed is the seed of new Christians.

Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be.