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Good morning.

Near to where I live in the centre of Cardiff is an infamous crossroads where five different roads converge: the site is known locally as ‘Death Junction’. However, this isn’t just a recently acquired nickname based on the risk from an increase in road users. It was actually the location of the town gallows, where many brutal executions took place for hundreds of years until the late nineteenth century. Two men come to mind especially today, who died on the same day in 1679: both were Catholic priests, and were gruesomely hung, drawn and quartered at Death Junction. Their offence? Witnessing to their faith at a time when it was a crime to do so. And today is the 55th anniversary on which John Lloyd and Philip Evans were canonised as saints by Pope Paul VI, recognising their courageous martyrdom, and asking their prayers for us who are still on the pilgrim way.

The English word ‘martyr’ comes directly from Greek, not referring to death particularly, but rather more broadly, witnessing. To witness to one’s faith, by allowing it to change us, is the ‘martyrdom’, as it were, that is accessible to every believer, even in small ways. We do this by growing in love for the people around us: maybe by listening better, or maybe by offering a small act of service. These small changes echo the courageous acts of witness that we see through the ages. We aren’t comparing these daily kindnesses to the giving of one’s life. But little acts added to each other grow in us a capacity for greater and greater love.

Lord,
may the witness of the ones who’ve wandered before us
inspire us to seek heaven with them, and with you.
Amen.