Meditation of His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa for the Canonization of the Martyrs of Damascus

This Meditation is shared from the website of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

Below you can find the Meditation of His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, for the Canonization of the Martyrs of Damascus, Monday 21 October 2024.

Wis 3, 1-9; 1Pt 4, 13-19; Lk 12, 4-9 

Most Reverend Excellencies, 
Most Reverend Father Custos, 
Dear brothers and sisters, 
may the Lord give you peace! 

(opening greetings) 

Yesterday, we had the immense joy of witnessing the canonization, alongside others, of the martyrs of Damascus. Today, we gather to give thanks to the Lord for their powerful testimony, now officially recognized and declared by the authority of the Church as a model for all, through the proclamation of the Holy Father, Pope Francis. 

We are familiar with their story, as well as the historical and social context that led to their martyrdom. I will not repeat what we have already heard over the past few days. At the time, political fragility — marked by the decline of the Ottoman Empire — opened the door to international interference, competing interests, and insecurity surrounding collective identity. These elements, often intertwined with religious and ethnic tensions, led to outbreaks of violence, in this case, anti-Christian violence. Tragically, this kind of drama has repeated itself throughout history, and even today, the Middle East is facing circumstances that are, in many ways, not so different from those past conflicts. 

However, we are not here today to pass historical judgment on the past or to conduct a political analysis of the present. We are here to give thanks to the Lord for the grace of martyrdom and to reflect on what these martyrs teach us today — especially as Christians of the Holy Land, the Middle East, and the Church as a whole. 

The canonization of saints is not just about glorifying figures of the past — though that is an important part of our tradition. It is also an opportunity for us to pause, reflect, and ask: Why do martyrs hold such a revered place in our spiritual and liturgical life or, simply put, What do the martyrs of Damascus and those of all times say to us today? 

First and foremost, it is essential to recognize that honoring martyrs and giving thanks for their witness does not mean celebrating their death or the evil done against them. Christian faith is about life, not death. The Christian meaning of sacrifice does not concern death, but life. 

We Christians are called to bear witness through our actions, of our love and of our contribution to society, by offering hope to our neighbors, and by opening paths to peace. God’s greatest gift is life, and it should always be our primary choice. 

Martyrdom, therefore, is not about death; in fact, it is a choice — a choice expressing profound love and supreme loyalty to what we hold most dear. This is why martyrdom stands as the ultimate testimony of faith. Martyrs show us, through their lives, the power of faithfulness to God — one that remains unshaken, even in the face of death. 

Today’s Gospel begins with two deeply significant words: “my friends” and “do not be afraid” (Lk 12:4). Elsewhere, Jesus says, “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (Jn 15:13). Our brothers, the Friars Minor and the Massabki brothers, shed their blood for Jesus, not out of a sense of heroism, but out of pure love. Their friendship with Jesus was so deep that they embraced His intentions, His feelings, and ultimately, they staked everything on Him. In the end, they gave their lives out of love for Him. They did not “fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more” (Lk 12,4)…

This Meditation was originally published on the website of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Please click here to read the full text.