Saints Charles Lwanga and Companions: Faithful unto Death
by VP
Posted on Monday June 03, 2024 at 01:00AM in Saints
"In 1879 Catholicism began spreading in Uganda when the White Fathers, a congregation of priests founded by Cardinal Lavigerie were peacefully received by King Mutesa of Uganda. The priests soon began preparing catechumens for baptism and before long a number of the young pages in the king’s court had become Catholics. However, on the death of Mutesa, his son Mwanga, a corrupt man who ritually engaged in pedophilic practices with the younger pages, took the throne.
When King Mwanga had a visiting Anglican
Bishop murdered, his chief page, Joseph Mukasa, a Catholic who went to
great length to protect the younger boys from the king’s lust, denounced
the king’s actions and was beheaded on November 15, 1885. The 25 year old Charles Lwanga, a man
wholly dedicated to the Christian instruction of the younger boys, became
the chief page, and just as forcibly protected them from the kings advances.On the night of the martyrdom of Joseph
Mukasa, realizing that their own lives were in danger, Lwanga and some
of the other pages went to the White Fathers to receive baptism. Another
100 catechumens were baptized in the week following Joseph Mukasa’s death.
The following May, King Mwanga learned
that one of the boys was learning catechism. He was furious and ordered
all the pages to be questioned to separate the Christians from the others.
The Christians, 15 in all, between the ages of 13 and 25, stepped forward.
The King asked them if they were willing to keep their faith. They answered
in unison, “Until death!” "
Catholic News Agency, used with Permission
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
O God, by whose providence the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the
Church: Grant that we who remember before you the blessed martyrs of
Uganda, may, like them, be steadfast in our faith in Jesus Christ, to
whom they gave obedience even unto death, and by their sacrifice brought
forth a plentiful harvest; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and
reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end,
Amen
OUR FATHER
Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth, as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
HAIL MARY
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.
GLORY BE
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it
was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.
O Jesus, our Lord and Redeemer, through your passion and death, we adore and thank Thee.
Holy Mary, Mother and Queen of Martyrs, Obtain for us sanctification through our sufferings.
Holy Martyrs, followers of the suffering Christ, obtain for us the grace to imitate Him.
St.
Joseph Balikuddembe, first Martyr of Uganda, who inspired and
encouraged Nephytes, obtain for us a spirit of truth and justice.
St. Charles Lwanga, patron of the Youth and Catholic Action, obtain for us a firm and zealous faith.
St. Matthias Mulumba, ideal Chief and follower of Christ meek and humble, obtain for us a Christian gentleness.
St. Dionysius Sebuggwawo, zealous for the Christian Faith and renowned for your modesty, obtain for us the virtue of modesty.
St. Andrew Kaggwa, model Catechist and teacher, obtain for us a love of the teaching of Christ.
St. Kizito, child resplendent in purity and Christian joy, obtain for us the gift of joy in our Lord.
St. Gyaviira, shining example of how to forgive and forget injuries, obtain for us the grace to forgive those who injure us.
St. Mukasa, fervent catechumen rewarded with the Baptism of your blood, obtain for us perseverance unto the death.
St.
Adolfus Ludigo, conspicuous by your following of our Lord's spirit of
service to others; obtain for us a love of unselfish service.
St.
Anatoli Kiriggwajjo, humble servant preferring a devout life to wordly
honours; obtain for us to love piety more than earthly things.
St. Ambrosius Kibuuka, young man full of joy and love of your neighbour; obtain for us fraternal charity.
St.
Achilles Kiwanuka, who for the sake of Christ detested vain
superstitious practices; obtain for us holy hatred of superstitious
practices.
St. John Muzeeyi, prudent councilor, renowned for the practice of works of mercy; obtain for us a love of those works of mercy.
Blessed
Jildo Irwa and Blessed Daudi Okello who gave up your lives for the
spread of the Catholic Faith; obtain for us the zeal of spreading the
Catholic Faith.
St. Pontaianus Ngondwe, faithful soldier, longing for
the martyr's crown; obtain for us the grace to be always faithful to
our duty.
St. Athanasius Bazzekuketta, faithful steward of the royal treasury; obtain for us a spirit of responsibility.
St. Mbaaga, who preferred death to the persuasions of your parents; obtain for us to follow generously divine grace.
St. Gonzaga Gonza, full of sympathy for prisoners, and all who were in trouble; obtain for us the spirit of mercy.
St. Noe Mawaggali, humble worker and lover of evangelical poverty; obtain for us love of evangelical poverty.
St.
Luke Baanabakintu, who ardently desired to imitate the suffering Christ
by Martyrdom; obtain for us a love of our motherland.
St. Bruno
Serunkuuma, soldier who gave an example of repentance and temperance;
obtain for us the virtues to repentance and temperance.
St. Mugagga, young man renowned for your heroic chastity; obtain for us perserverance in chastity.
Holy Martyrs, firm in your fidelity to the true Church of Christ; help us to be always faithful to the true Church of Christ.
Let us pray
O
Lord Jesus Christ, who wonderfully strengthened the Holy Martyrs of
Uganda St. Charles Lwanga, Matthias Mulumba, Blessed Jildo Irwa, Blessed
Daudi Okello and their Companions; and gave them to us as examples of
faith and fortitude, chastity, charity, and fidelity; grant, we beseech
you, that by their Intercession, the same virtues may increase in us,
and that we may deserve to become propagators of the true faith. Who
lives and reigns world without end. Amen
St. Charles Lwanga
and the Martyrs of Uganda, we come to you asking your prayers of
intercession on behalf of all who suffer from the unjust exercise of
authority. May you who were so cruelly persecuted for your faith in
Jesus Christ intercede for all who are oppressed, that they might be
comforted by the Divine Mercy and empowered by the gift and grace of
fortitude. May justice be the goal of all people and may all who are
called by the name Christian join together in works of redemption
directed at the sins and the structures of sin that afflict our
communities. Amen.