O Catholic faith, how stable, how firm

I en tid, hvor der kan synes at blive blæst til storm mod Den katolske Kirke, kan de være godt at kigge tilbage på een af de mange perioder i Kirkens historie, hvor den blev blodigt forfulgt og dens religiøse og moralske autoritet totalt underminere og tvivlett. Franciskaneren, den hellige Fidelis, prædikede under reformationen mod den ny protestantiske lære i Svejts. Han blev dræbt som martyr for sin tro. Om ham og hans katolske tro sagde Pave Benedikt XIV senere:

“O Catholic faith, how stable, how firm you are, how well-rooted, how well-founded on a strong rock. Heaven and earth will pass away, but you can never perish. From the beginning the whole world has spoken against you, but you have triumphed mightily over all.

For this is the victory which overcomes the world, our faith; this is what has brought the most powerful kings under Christ’s rule and made peoples the servants of Christ.

What was it that made the holy apostles and martyrs undergo fierce struggles and terrible agonies, if not faith and above all faith in the resurrection?
What was it that has made hermits spurn pleasure, honour and wealth, and live a celibate life in solitude, if not living faith?

What is it that in these days causes true Christians to turn aside from what is easy and pleasant and undergo hardship and labour?

Living faith working through love – this is what leads men to put aside the goods of the present in the hope of those of the future, and to look to the future rather than to the present.”