Saint Charles Lwanga

Today, the Church turns her attention to the country of Uganda, particularly to the saints of that land.

The 19th century was a time of great trial and persecution for the faithful in Uganda.  Those in postions of political power did everything they could to stop the growth of the Church.  Across the centuries, the Church has known this obstinacy on many occasions, but oppostion is most often the condition that breeds more fervent faith.

Evidence the witness of Saint Charles Lwanga (a catechist) and his companions who dared to stand up to the power of the political rulers of their time.  Following their martyrdom, Saint Charles and his 11 companions were eventually canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1964.

Here's the bio as it's presented by Catholic Online:

For those of us who think that the faith and zeal of the early Christians died out as the Church grew more safe and powerful through the centuries, the martyrs of Uganda are a reminder that persecution of Christians continues in modern times, even to the present day.

The Society of Missionaries of Africa (known as the White Fathers) had only been in Uganda for 6 years and yet they had built up a community of converts whose faith would outshine their own. The earliest converts were soon instructing and leading new converts that the White Fathers couldn't reach. Many of these converts lived and taught at King Mwanga's court.

King Mwanga was a violent ruler and pedophile who forced himself on the young boys and men who served him as pages and attendants. The Christians at Mwanga's court who tried to protect the pages from King Mwanga.

The leader of the small community of 200 Christians, was the chief steward of Mwanga's court, a twenty-five-year-old Catholic named Joseph Mkasa (or Mukasa).

When Mwanga killed a Protestant missionary and his companions, Joseph Mkasa confronted Mwanga and condemned his action. Mwanga had always liked Joseph but when Joseph dared to demand that Mwanga change his lifestyle, Mwanga forgot their long friendship. After striking Joseph with a spear, Mwanga ordered him killed. When the executioners tried to tie Joseph's hands, he told them, "A Christian who gives his life for God is not afraid to die." He forgave Mwanga with all his heart but made one final plea for his repentance before he was beheaded and then burned on November 15, 1885.

Charles Lwanga took over the instruction and leadership of the Christian community at court -- and the charge of keeping the young boys and men out of Mwanga's hands. Perhaps Joseph's plea for repentance had had some affect on Mwanga because the persecution died down for six months.

Anger and suspicion must have been simmering in Mwanga, however. In May 1886 he called one of his pages named Mwafu and asked what the page had been doing that kept him away from Mwanga. When the page replied that he had been receiving religious instruction from Denis Sebuggwawo, Mwanga's temper boiled over. He had Denis brought to him and killed him himself by thrusting a spear through his throat.

He then ordered that the royal compound be sealed and guarded so that no one could escape and summoned the country's executioners. Knowing what was coming, Charles Lwanga baptized four catechumens that night, including a thirteen-year-old named Kizito. The next morning Mwanga brought his whole court before him and separated the Christians from the rest by saying, "Those who do not pray stand by me, those who do pray stand over there." He demanded of the fifteen boys and young men (all under 25) if they were Christians and intended to remain Christians. When they answered "Yes" with strength and courage Mwanga condemned them to death.

He commanded that the group be taken on a 37 mile trek to the place of execution at Namugongo. The chief executioner begged one of the boys, his own son, Mabaga, to escape and hide but Mbaga refused. The cruelly-bound prisoners passed the home of the White Fathers on their way to execution. Father Lourdel remembered thirteen-year-old Kizito laughing and chattering. Lourdel almost fainted at the courage and joy these condemned converts, his friends, showed on their way to martyrdom. Three of these faithful were killed on road.

A Christian soldier named James Buzabaliawo was brought before the king. When Mwanga ordered him to be killed with the rest, James said, "Goodbye, then. I am going to Heaven, and I will pray to God for you." When a griefstricken Father Lourdel raised his hand in absolution as James passed, James lifted his own tied hands and pointed up to show that he knew he was going to heaven and would meet Father Lourdel there. With a smile he said to Lourdel, "Why are you so sad? This nothing to the joys you have taught us to look forward to."

Also condemned were Andrew Kagwa, a Kigowa chief, who had converted his wife and several others, and Matthias Murumba (or Kalemba) an assistant judge. The chief counsellor was so furious with Andrew that he proclaimed he wouldn't eat until he knew Andrew was dead. When the executioners hesitated Andrew egged them on by saying, "Don't keep your counsellor hungry -- kill me." When the same counsellor described what he was going to do with Matthias, he added, "No doubt his god will rescue him." "Yes," Matthias replied, "God will rescue me. But you will not see how he does it, because he will take my soul and leave you only my body." Matthias was cut up on the road and left to die -- it took him at least three days.

The original caravan reached Namugongo and the survivors were kept imprisoned for seven days. On June 3, they were brought out, wrapped in reed mats, and placed on the pyre. Mbaga was killed first by order of his father, the chief executioner, who had tried one last time to change his son's mind. The rest were burned to death. Thirteen Catholics and eleven Protestants died. They died calling on the name of Jesus and proclaiming, "You can burn our bodies, but you cannot harm our souls."

When the White Fathers were expelled from the country, the new Christians carried on their work, translating and printing the catechism into their natively language and giving secret instruction on the faith. Without priests, liturgy, and sacraments their faith, intelligence, courage, and wisdom kept the Catholic Church alive and growing in Uganda. When the White Fathers returned after King Mwanga's death, they found five hundred Christians and one thousand catchumens waiting for them. The twenty-two Catholic martyrs of the Uganda persecution were canonized.

Prayer
Martyrs of Uganda, pray for the faith where it is danger and for Christians who must suffer because of their faith. Give them the same courage, zeal, and joy you showed. And help those of us who live in places where Christianity is accepted to remain aware of the persecution in other parts of the world. Amen.

And on we go

 Before we leave week 2, perhaps it's worthwhile noting some of the hidden sides of the project, like the parking lot at the back of the church that has become a staging area for the supplies that arrive, along with a place to leave the vehicles (bicycles and cars) that bring the workers on site.

 

Now that the scaffolding has been installed on the east-facing tower, workers are concentrating on the west-facing one.  Actually the base frame for the west tower was already in place from the time that the footings were put in last week, but now the rest of the structure has to be added.

Having moved to the new tower, can you spot the workers way up there?

Not everyone can be at the top of the structure.  Someone has to stay behind to load the bucket that ascends and descends the structure, carrying with it any variation of tools.  The rope attached to the bucket can be easily detached by means of the hook at its end, and re-attached to the decking that is subsequently installed at various levels of the structure.

Now that the east-tower is completely shrouded, the work continues, hidden by the foliage of a tree.

Perhaps this angle is a bit better to afford a view of the west-tower, still being worked on.  Soon it too will be entirely covered (on all sides) by the scaffolding that will remain for the better part of the summer.

Work continues on the installation of the scaffolding at least until next week.  Soon the next phase will begin, and when it does, we'll have the pics to prove it.  In the meanwhile, it won't be long before the framing will be complete.  Stay tuned for more.

Media exploring the Church

How long will it take the Church to catch up with the rest of the world?  The question has been asked for years (at least in modern times), but at least in one way, the Vatican is keeping up, as are other parts of the Church (like this writer for one).

Evidence a series of episodes that have been aired in the United States of America this week on NBCs The Today Show:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

This morning, the NBCs daily show aired a special inside look at the Vatican, something they haven't done before.  What a wonderful thing to know that other sources of the modern media are doing some research to establish relations with the Church in this way.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Saints Marcellinus and Peter

There is an optional memorial that can be celebrated today: that of Saints Marcellinus and Peter.

A cursory glance at the research reveals that there were two figures bearing the name Marcellinus who both died in AD304, one a pope and the other a relatively unknown Christian, who would appear to be the companion of Peter (who himself was not the great Peter who was named the first Pope).

The Memorial observed today is in honor of the pair, not the pope, although I'm sure that the Holy Father wouldn't turn away our prayers either.

Pope Damasus provides the most authoritative information about Saint Marcellinus, a priest; and St. Peter, known as an exorcist.  According to his testimony the martyrdom of these saints occurred during the Diocletian persecution.  Damasus received this information from the executioner himself.  They were beheaded in a grove, but their bodies were moved and buried in the cemetery Ad duis Lauros on the Via Labicana.  Once peace had been restored, the Church built a basilica over their tombs.

Of course, there is also a Marcellinus who was a soldier, who lived in the fourth century, and there is record of yet another Marcellinus of Carthage, who was a friend of Saint Augustine and a correspondent of Saint Jerome's, but these latter two were doubtless named after the first one, for whom the Memorial observed today is set aside.

Images of the first week

The first week of work on the towers is now behind us.  Actually these first two weeks (or the better part of them) is dedicated to putting the scaffolding in place.  Some earlier pictures of the progress were posted last week, but now that the first seven days are behind us, it's time for a progress report.

Actually there were two rain days (and it would just be unsafe for metal to be wielded in the midst of a rain storm) but despite this delay, the work seems to be advancing at a relatively accelerated pace.  In fact, the forecast is that they will be finished a few days ahead of the original schedule, which remains to be seen because it appears that the design of the scaffolding is being created as we go, so that they can make sure that each piece is secure.

Only when the last piece is put in place, and the relevant certificates of release have been issued can the rest of the work continue.  Here then are this week's pics of the progress:

Above, the work has begun on the west-facing tower.  Notice the footing that has been placed on the stone wall to the right.  They are using the stairway wall to shore up the framing.

A better look at the framing, the footing and a bit of scope for all the ironwork that's being installed.  The middle stairway to the church is still accessible, but the side stairways have all been marked with yellow caution tape.

Once the footings are secured, the successive levels can be added, complete with platforms which will eventually allow the masonry to take place.

Work on the east-facing tower has almost been completed.  A few more pictures below show the scaffolding that has been (almost) wrapped around the entire tower.

A bit of perspective.  The tree in front of the west tower may have to be clipped in order to allow the scaffolding to be properly installed.  In the coming days, the answer to this riddle will also be known.

Notice that the central stairs are still accessible, and that there is a cover which has been installed over the three doors which lead into the church.

 It's a long way up to the top of the tower, but notice how the scaffold has been arranged in an octagonal form in order to permit movement around the tower.

A little closer look at the covering over the east door.  The yellow caution tape has been strung across the stairways which lead off to both sides from the main doors.  There is also some wood in the distance to steady and anchor the framing.

Notice the wire above the steel rod?  It's anchored into the mortar, holding the scaffolding in place.

Perspective is everything.  It's not every day that you see the entrance to this church with so much steel around it.  Believe it or not, access to the doorways is open (although it doesn't appear that way from this angle).

Turn around, put your back to the centre door, and look down the stairs.  This is what you see these days.  Notice the roof cover that has been installed overhead to protect those who are entering and exiting from any falling debris.  The other machinery in the distance is part of a separate project that's currently going on.  They're working on repairing the culvert over the creek that flows under the roadway, and through the adjacent parking lot to the west of the church.

From the back of the church, this is the view of the east tower, almost completely framed by scaffolding.  Once the work on this tower is complete, the other tower too will be shrouded.

From yet another angle, here is the east tower as it's seen from the courtyard outside Ste-Anne-des-Pins.  Look carefully, you'll see three of the workmen toward the top section of the scaffolding.  It's a long way up, but they're not afraid.

Justin, the Martyr

Sorry for the delay folks.  Well, as we begin the month of June, the Church celebrates the Memorial of Saint Justin, Martyr. Justin (103–165) was an early Christian apologist. Most of his works are lost, but two apologies and a dialogue survive. He is considered a saint by many Christian denominations including the Roman Catholic Church and the Greek Orthodox Church.

The works and words of the early apologists helped the Church and the early Christians to understand the truths of their faith, just as they continue to feed us today.  In our time, these truths have not changed.  The Church continues to proclaim them, and people still come to seek answers to their questions.  At times, we don't even know what the questions are, yet we come, and somehow when we place ourselves humbly before God and stop long enough in prayer to allow not only the question but the answer to surface, these truths are always there for the taking.

May Saint Justin pray for us today.

Hopeful signs

Good news.  The first phase of the restoration project is swiftly coming to an end.  Even with two rain days last week, there is still a good possiblity that the scaffolding will all be in place by mid-week.  This would be a full three days (or more) ahead of schedule.

Providing that all the necessary documentation is in place on time, this means that the work on the towers might very well begin ahead of schedule.

More to come.