The Blood of the Martyrs is the Seed of the Faith

April 2nd is the day designated by the late Pope John Paull II to be the Day of Bl. Pedro Calungsod, a Feast in the Archdiocese of Cebu. Blessed Pedro Calungsod was beatified in Rome on March 5th, 2000. But since April 2nd this year falls on a Sunday of Lent, the Feast has been omitted.

But I think the Gospel passage for the Fifth Week of Lent speaks so well about the life of Beato Pedro. Jesus said that "unless a grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains a single grain of wheat. But if it dies, it bears much fruit (John 12:24)." This is the life of Beato Pedro. He offered his life to God, suffering a brutal death and earned his crown of martyrdom for CHRIST, his Lord and Master. He lovingly gave up his life for Christ and for His Church. The persecutors did kill Beato Pedro, but they weren't able to exterminate the Catholic Faith. Beato Pedro's blood has become the refreshing water that made the Catholic Faith blossom in the Mariannas (Guam).

So as we celebrate the Fifth Week of Lent, Let us call to mind the words of our Lord Jesus in the Gospel. And let us be filled with gratitude for the martyrdom of Beato Pedro Calungsod. We, as Christians, were marked with the sign of the Cross. Let us be bold to live this redemptive sign in our daily lives.