ST. NICHOLAS PICK AND COMPANIONS - GIFT OF FAITH

The book of Hebrew teaches us that faith is the assurance of things hoped for and conviction of things not seen. The catechism is not mistaken when it teaches that “Faith is a gift of God, a supernatural virtue infused by him” (C.C.C. 153). We can only begin to understand the reality of faith as a gift from God, when we begin to consider things that people have done because of their faith. The early Christian community sold what they had and submitted the money; what holy stupidity. The martyrs of old rejoiced at the face of martyrdom because of faith in the resurrection; what unreasonable way of acting. Vibrant men and pretty women abandon their wealth and normal life to embrace the strictness and austerity religious life; all because of faith. It is the same faith, a gift of God, that made the holy martyrs of God, who we celebrate today, to give up their lives for the sake of the future resurrection.

These Holy martyrs also known as the martyrs of Gorkum included: Nicholas Pick, a Friar minor together with 8 of his friar minor brothers and 10 other priests. These holy men were martyred just because of their faith in the real presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist and their faith in the holy Roman Catholic Church especially the authority of the Pope. They were martyred by the Calvinist protestants, who arrested them and forced them to renounce their Catholic faith. This men of God would prefer to die in the body than to die an eternal death at last. Consequently, they were hanged in an old barn in the deserted Ruggen Monastery on the outskirts of Briel. The execution was so loosely and clumsily done that it took like two hours for some of them to die. They were martyred on the 9^th of July, 1572. The holy martyrs were beatified by Clement X, on the 24th November 1675, and canonized by Pius IX, on the 29th June 1867.

Jesus, in the Gospels, told His disciples that since the world hated him, they would hate them also. He told them that this is because they are not of the world. It is only a strong conviction on the reality of our faith that will make us do great and seemingly foolish things for the Love of God. It is only a strong faith that will help us live a life not of the world and joyfully accept the hatred of the world.

Let us today as God for the gift of faith.

St. Nicholas Pick and Companions    pray for us.