Fall Marian Helper 2021

F ATHER J OSEPH W RITES These aren’t stories from the distant past, but rather from the 20 th century. And the Marian martyrs aren’t alone. In fact, Pope Francis has said repeatedly that we see more martyrs and persecuted Christians today than in the early centuries of Christianity. The noted Vatican journalist and author John Allen has done the research to back that up, especially in his book The Global War on Christians . Our Marian martyrs are part of that history of persecution and martyrdom. So are far too many of our brothers and sisters in Christ, suffering and dying around the world for Christ and His Church. So what can we do about it? First and foremost, pray. Never underestimate or forget the power of your prayers. Letting God into an impossible situation is a recipe for the unexpected to happen, for hope to come into hopeless places, for grace to transform even the hardest problems. Pray the Rosary, in particular. As Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC, has told us in his books, the Rosary is a spiritual sword that can invite the grace of God to overcome all enemies of Christ and His Church. Also, venerate the Divine Mercy Image, because Jesus promised us victory even over our earthly enemies if we would do that. Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet, especially in th e 3 o’clock Hour of Great Mercy, for the conversion of those who are doing the persecuting and for protection and help for those who are being persecuted. Secondly, we Marians have a charism, a special call from God, to serve the Church where the need is greatest. That’s why we have th e Marian Martyrs of Rosica, Belarus, who served their parishioners even to death at the hands of the Nazis. That’s why we are pursuing the cause of Servant of God Fabian and his companions, because they were serving the Church where the need was greatest even as the Soviets cracked down on Catholicism. That’s why my Marian brothers are serving across the world, even at times in the face of government repression. We are called to bring Christ to the world, especially to those places where Christ and His Church are most in need, most under threat. It’s always been that way, as a look at Marian history shows us. That important work continues today, with your help and prayers. Thank you for being part of our Marian family! Finally, we need to continue to stand up for religious liberty at home and around the world. Religious liberty has been called the first freedom for a very important reason. God should come first in our lives, even before family, before country, before party, or before self-interest. If God comes first, like He did for the Marian martyrs, then we will be able to keep the rest of our priorities straight. I point out in my book After Suicide: There’s Hope for Them and for You that since God is Goodness Itself, Truth Itself, Love Itself, communities that exclude religion are excluding Goodness, Truth, and Love, whether they realize it or not. That’s no way to create a just, peaceful society. We need God today more than ever. We need religious liberty, and we need to ask the Communion of Saints to help us preserve it. Marian martyrs, pray for us! W e’ve focused on some of the greatest of my Marian brothers in the cover story for this issue. I call them “greatest” because they gave everything for Jesus Christ in the most literal way possible: suffering torture, imprisonment, and death for love of Christ and His Church. The ‘greatest’ Marians M ARIAN H ELPER • F ALL 2021 • MARIAN . ORG 3 “Father Joseph, MIC,” is the honorary title of the director of the Association of Marian Helpers. The current director i s Fr. Chris Alar, MIC.