Reformed Evangelical Synod of America

Posts Tagged ‘Martyrs’

All Saints’ Day was originally a commemoration of the martyrs of the ancient church — the men, women, and children who were persecuted and killed for their faith in Christ. It has since become a festival on which the church remembers all the Christian faithful, both known and unknown. Originally celebrated in the spring, it came to be celebrated on November 1 in the West during the ninth century, probably as a counter-balance to the Pagan festival Samhain.

COLLECT
Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son. Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

READINGS
Deuteronomy 33: 1-3 or Daniel 7: 1-3, 15-18
Psalm 34 or 149
1 John 3: 1-3 or Revelation 7: 2-17 or Ephesians 1: 11-23
Matthew 5: 1-12

Crispin and Crispinian were shoemakers and lived in the third century. They preached the Christian faith in Gaul whilst exercising their trade and so, like St Paul earning his living as a tent-maker, were no drain on the Christian community. They were put to death for their faith at the beginning of the Diocletian persecution and died in about the year 287 in Rome.

COLLECT
Almighty God, you called your servants Crispin and Crispinian to use their employ as a means of evangelism, and gave them the grace to witness to you even unto death. May we find in our own daily lives the means and the courage to witness to our faith in your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Four of the many believers who were martyred throughout New Guinea during the Second World War.

Almost immediately there were arrests. Eight clergymen and two laymen were executed by the Japanese Army “as an example” on September 2, 1942. In the next few years 333 church workers of various denominations were killed, while many native Papuan Christians (of all Churches) risked their own lives to care for the wounded.

COLLECT
Almighty God, we remember before you this day the blessed martyrs of New Guinea, who, following the example of their Savior, laid down their lives for their friends; and we pray that we who honor their memory may imitate their loyalty and faith. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.