"These things they will do to you; because they have not known the Father, nor me" (John 16:3)
Our Lord foretold first the fate of good and just - persecutions on the hands of bad and unjust. It usually starts with brutal force and violence. This is what the faithful suffered from in the first centuries of Christianity, during violent persecutions of Reformation and war of cultures in 19th century. Similar brutal persecutions were experienced by Catholics in Mexico and Russia in 20th century. "This things they will do to you "- says Christ the Lord. Particularly harmful way of persecution are scoffs, sneers and mockery. Faithful Catholics who work in factories or offices, Catholic students can suffer from all possible kind of bullying - sometimes for years! Catholic parents blessed with large families are often ridiculed and scoffed at. Member of Catholic societies, Catholic Action are subject of slander and mockery. "This things they will do to you "- says Christ the Lord. Persecution is exerted first hand by discrimination. In some countries to admit of being Catholic in work application process can result in unemployment for years in spite of having excellent qualifications or large families to support. "This things they will do to you "- says Christ the Lord. But are all these examples of persecution enough to induce fear or sadness in good Catholics? No way! For they can be sure of the best companion awaiting them, with their Divine Master, with the Apostles and Saints among martyrs for faith. What more, the persecutions last only short moment, after that all will change and woe to persecutors. On the Last Judgment they will cry in despair: "These are they, whom we had some time in derision, and for a parable of reproach. We fools esteemed their life madness, and their end without honour. Behold how they are numbered among the children of God, and their lot is among the saints." (Wisdom 5:3-5)
Our Lord foretold first the fate of good and just - persecutions on the hands of bad and unjust. It usually starts with brutal force and violence. This is what the faithful suffered from in the first centuries of Christianity, during violent persecutions of Reformation and war of cultures in 19th century. Similar brutal persecutions were experienced by Catholics in Mexico and Russia in 20th century. "This things they will do to you "- says Christ the Lord. Particularly harmful way of persecution are scoffs, sneers and mockery. Faithful Catholics who work in factories or offices, Catholic students can suffer from all possible kind of bullying - sometimes for years! Catholic parents blessed with large families are often ridiculed and scoffed at. Member of Catholic societies, Catholic Action are subject of slander and mockery. "This things they will do to you "- says Christ the Lord. Persecution is exerted first hand by discrimination. In some countries to admit of being Catholic in work application process can result in unemployment for years in spite of having excellent qualifications or large families to support. "This things they will do to you "- says Christ the Lord. But are all these examples of persecution enough to induce fear or sadness in good Catholics? No way! For they can be sure of the best companion awaiting them, with their Divine Master, with the Apostles and Saints among martyrs for faith. What more, the persecutions last only short moment, after that all will change and woe to persecutors. On the Last Judgment they will cry in despair: "These are they, whom we had some time in derision, and for a parable of reproach. We fools esteemed their life madness, and their end without honour. Behold how they are numbered among the children of God, and their lot is among the saints." (Wisdom 5:3-5)
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