Review article
John Paul II on Martyrdom
Elvis Ražov
orcid.org/0000-0002-8222-765X
; Department of Theology–Cathechesis, University of Zadar, Zadar, Croatia
Abstract
That which shaped John Paul II’s personal relationship toward martyrdom in his encyclicals, letters and apostolic letters were the following: his experience of his people’s martyrdom and that of the Church in Poland under a Communis –atheist regime; his personal experience of martyrdom in the attempted assassination on his life; his illness and also his accord with the traditional ecclesial view of martyrdom. Martyrdom for the Pope was primarily the imitation of Christ in the sacramental life to the degree of complete conformity in carrying one’s Cross and one’s readiness to die. Martyrdom is bearing witness to the truth which sets man completely free in the face of aggression and power. It allows for man’s moral activity in relation to God’s law without compromise with the world in the name of some partial »good« and thus humanizes man in a perfect way. Martyrs are to the Pope the most perfect witnesses to the truth about existence. Martyrdom is a secure path and the most powerful proof that it is possible to overcome factors of division in the ecumenical efforts for the unity of the Church seeing as all Christian communities have their martyrs of the faith. They are therefore a light and signpost for the new evangelization.
Keywords
John Paul II; martyrdom; truth; freedom; perfect love; new evangelization; ecumenism
Hrčak ID:
123114
URI
Publication date:
24.6.2014.
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