What are you willing to give your life for? 

There’s an old story about Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War. He had called for one of the men under his command who had an excellent reputation. Lincoln needed the soldier to deliver a message to another battalion that was dangerously positioned on the other side of the enemy. If both battalions could be coordinated to attack the opposition at the same time, their position would become a strategic advantage.

When the young man arrived, without disclosing the nature of the assignment, Lincoln explained that he had a very dangerous mission and asked the soldier if he would be willing to take on such a commission. The soldier said, “I am willing to die for our cause.” Lincoln replied, “I have twenty-five thousand men who are willing to die for the cause. What I need is one who is willing to live for it.”

Throughout the history of Christianity men and women have given their lives for their faith, including two men who we celebrate today: Symphorian and Timotheus. 

Even though these two saints lived about 200 years apart, as some of the earliest Chirstians they faced similar challenges—especially persecution. But even in the face of death, Symphorian and Timotheus clung to their dream of spreading the faith and chose to live for God. Eventually their witness of the Christian faith got the attention of the Roman authorities. And both of them were sentenced to a horrible, violent death. On the way to his execution, Symphorian’s mother, Blessed Augusta, famously encouraged him with these words: “Son, son, O Symphorian, remember your God!” Even in their last moments, these two amazing saints didn’t just die for the faith—they lived for it. 

Even today there are many parts of the world where members of our Catholic family are politically persecuted, physically tortured, and sometimes executed just because they are Catholic. So it is important for us not to set martyrdom aside as something that took place only in early Christian times. But you and I are not necessarily called to die for our faith. We are called to live for it. The modern Church desperately needs men and women who are willing to live for the faith.

What are you willing to live for?



Feast Day: September 22

Feast Day Shared By: Ignatius of Santhia, Maurice, Settimio of Jesi, Gunthildis of Suffersheim, Lauto of Coutances, Saint Sadalberga

Patron Saint of: Children, Students, Against Eye Problems

Symbols: A Young Man Being Dragged to Martyrdom, Encouraged by his Mother

Canonized: Pre-Congregation