The Irish standard., 1886-11-13
CATHOLIC NEWS.
Variegated Martyrdoms.

Variegated Martyrdoms.
little Messenger of the Sacred Heart.}
4 very old documen known to schol-
ars and antiquarians as the Rule OF st.
COLUMBIA, speaks of two kinds of mar
tyrdom-the red and the white. The
reason why marty1dom is called red is
plain enough. The martyr generally
has the privilege Of shedding his blood
for the faith. This is his testimony or
his witness; for the word 'smartyr''
means witness. 1.-The blood is the
life": he gives his life. Bloodshed inn
plies suffering: be yields himself to
suffering. Blood was often the seal OF
q solemn covenant: he thereby enters
into covenant with his Lord, and his
Lord with him. "Be thou faithful
unto death, and will give thee crown
of life.'' And so the Chnrch clothes
her priests in red vestments when they
celebrate the Holy Mass on martyrs
feasts, even when those martyrs have
died without actually shedding their
blood as, for instance, when they have
been drowned, OF died in prison.
But the rule of st. COLUMBIA goes ON
to speak of another kindof martyrdom.
and calls it white" The white mar
tyrdom consists OF the more ordinary
trials Of Christian. well and courage
ously borne by holy souls, who have
not vet resisted unto blood" OF these
trials st. Bernard says that, in the long
run, they may equal martyrdom. For
the latter is soon over very sharp and
terrible it has often been, as long as it
lasted; but the tyrant persecutor has
only his little day or hour, and his VIC
tim is then waited safe to heaven.
Whereas to take up a daily cross, to
follow daily rule, to bear with un-
kindness at home, with calumny abroad; !;
pain, sickness, a weary, lonely life
oh while we honor red martyrdom,
and invoke the holy martyrs with their
ruby crowns, let us not forget to adore
the grace that has made the
white martyrs too. For of them
also it may be said: +" These
are those who come out Of great tribu-
lation, and have washed their robes,
and have made them white in the
Blood of the Lamb So the sufferers
by white martyrdom are, in their own
high degree, very glorious company.
Is there yet another kind :? There is
what great theologian Of the Church
has called a black martyrdom; or,
rather Tin his words] martyrdom Of
ink. To this they alone are called
whom Our Lord wills to advocate His
truth by their writings.
But the real martyrd ON Of ink is
gained only by solid, well-pondered, Ia
borious and prayerful writing, such as
deserves a reward of being the fruit Of
real brainwork, animated and sustained
by pure desire of putting truth before
our fellow men. This is the offering
which st. Thomas Aquinas, in his own
eminent degree made to Our Lord, and
which He. i'll turn, speaking through
the crucifx, rewarded by the words
"Well hast thou written OF Me, Thom
as what recompense dost thou de-
sire 2" We remember the answer made
by the Saint: Nothing, Lord, but thy
self.n If we consider the answer, We
shall appreciate the purity of intention
which directed both his long, patient
study, aud the result of it. If we look
at the row of folio volumes containing
the writings he has left behind him, we
shall estimate the cost OF the martyr
dom of ink that won that praise from
Our Lord,
But, whether classified as red, white
or black, may each and all OF us have
the grace, and use it, to witness for
Our Lord in word, i'll work, in self-de-
nial, and, if He calls us to it, i'll suffer
ing