Why Do Catholic Young Adults Stay? Results Part 2: Life & Struggles

Please see my Explanation about the survey as well as Part 1 of the Results. For these results, we had a total of 301 people who answered some or all of these questions. A big thanks to every single individual, majority of whom came from the Catholic Geeks Facebook page, who participated!

I have provided a quick summary of Part 2. Following that is a more detailed breakdown of the results under each category.

The TL;DR Version

At least 77 participants attended Catholic school at some point in their lives while at least 13 participants were homeschooled.  While all homeschoolers had positive reactions to how their education influenced their faith, Catholic school attendees gave mixed responses to the influence of the educational experience on their faith. The most common struggles that people have had/ currently have in their faith lives revolved around being lukewarm, hard times finding answers, or difficulties practicing their faith on a regular basis. As far as struggles with Church teachings go, most of those struggles revolved around sexuality as well as the Sacramental or prayerful aspects of Catholicism. Majority of the resolutions to those conflicts came from relationships with friends or family, growing in the faith intellectually, and building their relationship with God. When it came to daily activities to practice the faith, the most common responses included prayer, the Rosary, and reading, both scripture-based and other spiritual works. Participants were often quick to point out that a lot of the practices mentioned did not always happen on a regular basis or were new habits they were trying to take on.

Did You Attend Catholic School at Any Point? What Grades? Did Your Catholic School Education Influence Your Faith?

13 participants to this question came from a Homeschool background. Anyone who commented about their homeschool experience had nothing but positive things to say about how homeschool influenced their faith lives. They mentioned things like "extensive theology study", "Catechism [was] taught every day", and that homeschool "allowed me to practice my faith on a deeper level". Beautiful stuff!

Now, of course, when I posed this question, I was referring mainly to traditional Catholic schools, with kids in uniforms, majority connected to parishes, fancy private high schools, that kind of stuff. That's not to say I don't appreciate the input of the homeschoolers. Mainly just pointing out that this is an instance where my question was a little too broad, too open, compared to what I was intending to ask. Now, back to business!

32 participants stated that they attended Catholic school their whole K-12 educational career. Another 10 responded that they attended Catholic grade school just from kindergarten to 8th grade. Following that, 7 other participants claimed only going to a Catholic high school. And finally, 28 people collectively claimed going to Catholic school off and on, or just a portion of their education. So,  altogether 77 participants claimed a Catholic school education.

As far as the influence that Catholic schools had on responders, this was quite the mixed response. Firstly, 6 people just stated that Catholic school had an influence on them, without verifying good or bad (which again is my fault because of the way I phrased the question). Meanwhile, 17 participants mentioned some positive that came from Catholic school. Here's some quotes on the positive impact:

• "It helped to enforce what I was taught at home"
• "If not for the caring teachers in the high school environment I wouldn't be where I am today"
• "It gave me occasion to learn how to defend my faith against bad instruction, helped keep God a constant thought, and occasionally meant I had a few good examples of the faith outside of my family"
• "Had a class on Catholic social teaching with hard lines and answers taught by our priest. Best class to date"
• "My high school was especially crucial to my faith formation, as I learned how to properly defend the faith"
• "Being exposed to regular Catholic sacramental and devotional life, as well as meaningful discussions on theology and church history from teachers who cared about it intensely, influenced my investigation and ultimate decision to convert"
• "Senior year of high school I took a class called 'Why Am I Catholic?' That was an apologetics course that really influenced me"

Now, there were about 13 others who commented with mixed experiences at Catholic school. Whether it was differences between grade levels or just a negative counteracted by a positive in the same year, these 13 had both pleasant as well as critical things to say.

And then there's the straight up negative influence that Catholic schools had on at least 17 other people. Perhaps influence is not the correct word in this case, but these 17 had at least critical things to say about Catholic school. Here's some reasons why:

• "It made me not want to be involved with the church due to the people involved"
• "It actually almost sent me away from the Church"
• "Nothing was ever really explained, that's just the way it was"
• "I left high school not remembering anything about my faith. I learned to pass a test, not for the knowledge or truth".
• "The schools were AWFUL for Catholic teaching and living"
• "The schools were completely unaware of kids talking about porn and sex, flashing each other, harassing others, and several kids were engaged in drugs and sex. It was horrible to be around that and have the schools going through the motions of Mass and spirituality. No one tried to fix the problem and engage the students. Some kids were really poor and had terrible home lives and no one engaged".
• "It influenced it negatively as the nuns wouldn’t explain things to us and the priest was more interested in knowing if we had 'bad thoughts' when we were teens"

1 person even straight up called out the Catholic schools in Ontario (apparently y'all need some massive reform up there according to this individual). 

And then, not to be left out of the conversation, there was mention of Catholic colleges and universities in the responses. I didn't expect this (again, broad questions here), but they're certainly a worthy inclusion. 

24 participants mentioned that they had gone to a Catholic college or university, majority of whom had been in a Catholic school at some point beforehand. It was kind of surprising to me that if these people talked about the influence these years had on their faith, most of them said college/ university had a negative influence on them. Although, at least 1 person talked about Mass in the dorm at Notre Dame and 1 other person talked about the positive influence of FUS aka Franciscan University of Steubenville. The surprise comes from the mention of the positive influence that other people talk about receiving during college/ university in responses to other questions.

Were There Moments You Struggled/ Were Not Practicing? If So, What Brought You Back?

At least 5 people shared an experience of struggling with lukewarm-ness, that feeling of not really being invested in the faith even if one is not totally fallen away. The reason for being lukewarm, that some participants shared on the survey, included the family not really being religious and marrying a non-Catholic.

A similar yet different kind of lukewarm experience came from the college environment. 6 people referred to their college years as a time that they were struggling spiritually. Perhaps the most relateable example of this struggle came from 1 participant's testimony: "I was faced with the difficulty of accepting church doctrine or social standards.  I wasn't participating due to the knowledge of mortal sin, but [refused] to change my life". 

On a slightly more serious note,  suicide and depression played a part in at least 3 responders' struggles. These feelings, according to the responders, came from "the social environment at the church", having "a very difficult time in college...[a] dark night of the soul", and a time where the participant "couldn't bear the pain and sorrow of [their] life".

3 different participants struggled with going to Mass at some point. 1 said that at one point they found Mass "difficult and boring", another said they had difficulty making time for Mass, and the third one said "I did not go to Mass because of my lifestyle choices". 2 participants discussed priests in their lives being a source of struggle. 1 talked about "baggage and hurt from priests [they] had known" while the other mentioned trials that came from switching parishes due to poor pastoral leadership

Then of course there's Sex! Don't worry, that's going to come up in more detail in other questions, but in response to this question, the struggles of 3 participants were sexuality related. Whether it was "confusion and hurt over sexuality", pornography, or just straight up being "knowingly deep in sexual sin".

4 participants responded by saying they had a hard time finding people who could answer their questions or fully catechize and explain things to them. 1 separate individual said that since they did not fully understand Catholicism, they left the Church as a teen and had became a Wiccan.

There were a couple mentions about belief in God being a struggle. For 1 person, struggling with belief was due to problems within their life and for the other it was...well, in their own words "I lost my belief in God, but He ended up being the only One there for me in the hardest point in my life". 1 individual mentioned their struggle with the Church's more conservative teachings such as pro-life and no contraceptives. And finally for 1 particular individual, it seemed to be a combination of things based on their place and time in life. As they said "I attended a Catholic high school with a lukewarm Catholic culture in my small town (500). Alcohol abuse, lust, drugs, they weren't uncommon to see from students out side of school. I fell victim as well".

Some struggles were a little unique, because they related to participants who seem to be, by all other signs, practicing Catholics trying to grow in their faith.

• Today I'm just struggling to find community with other Charismatics in my diocese and to find anyone in the world who is also liturgically Traditionalist and spiritually Charismatic.
• Haven't been to Mass in a year because of my allergies and a lack of enriching community. I know those aren't good reasons, but when you have a panic attack walking into a church because someone smells like onions... It makes it hard to go. 
• The services I'm going to seem too modern. People talking before, clapping after Mass, hymns that I'm not familiar with. Also, the young adult groups that I've tried to join are too forced. The person organizing the get together was also the youth leader, and she seemed to treat us like high school students. I'm 30, I don't need a chaperone.

So, what brought people back or what helped them overcome these struggles? Even if people felt like they never really fell away from their faith or just never really explained their struggles in this survey, a ton of people were able to explain what either brought them back to Catholicism or what renewed that fire for God in their lives.

Let's start with talking about the influence of people. For 11 participants, interaction with Catholic friends, peers, or groups helped them come back. Of these 11, there was mention of friends in youth groups, Newman Centers at college, doing choir with a college roommate, a Catholic Woman's Pregnancy Due Date Group, and a best friend convert. I smiled when I saw responses like "free food and friends" as well as "the compassion I see in others who are Catholic" because that just goes to show that simple joy, humor, and fun can be found in the Catholic Church through other people.

College itself was actually a positive influence according to 5 responses to this question. Being in college allowed 1 individual to further study teachings and apologetics [arguments for and defense of faith and doctrine], another individual mentioned courses on Catholicism in college being a help, and 1 other person shared some personal experiences with a community of Catholics in college: "We would go to bars for theology on tap, go frisbee golfing, but just as easily hold spontaneous rosary sessions. I think having a group of like-minded people is key without it feeling forced. We were also pretty close with the priest then, too and talk to him about anything, and he would tell us truth in a comforting way". 2 other responders said priests have played a role in combating struggles. For another person it was accountability and encouragement of their youth minister "to not give up just because it got hard".

This is how powerful a single person can be in helping someone else struggling in their faith. That person from small town (500) who fell victim to alcohol, lust, and drugs amongst lukewarm Catholics? They added  "I came 'back' through seeing 1 devoted Catholic. Now that I'm in college, I've started attending the TLM [Traditional Latin Mass], and my faith has never been better". If we learn anything from just this particular section, we learn that whether it's a whole community or just a lone person, our connection to other humans plays a vital role in our faith life, especially when it comes to overcoming struggles.

Also in this survey response, the importance of relationships with family played a major part. 13 responders referenced family members as some component in their return. 6 of these people talked about their spouse being an influence, whether it was their spouse's conversion, their own conversion through their spouse, or even a change of life spurred on by a spouse's negative comment towards the Church. Children were mentioned in 4 of these responses and 1 participant commented that their grandparent's passing was the cause. 1 participant specifically credited the example of their parents. Then there was the testimony of 1 other individual: "Yes, I truly believe that my mother's prayers brought me back. I just woke up one day and went to Mass. I saw the priest the next day and after a powerful and moving confession, I felt whole again and at peace".

For 1 participant, it was being involved in Lifeteen during their preparation for Confirmation. 4 people answered that a retreat or conference of some sort helped them, whether it was a youth conference or a Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP) retreat. Volunteer service was part of 2 peoples' responses, 1 mentioned volunteering for youth ministry while the other talked about volunteering with Religious Sisters and seeing the joy of the Sisters.

Then, 13 participants talked about something involving the intellect, whether it was learning the reasons why we believe what we believe, looking for and finding satisfactory answers, asking and searching for every question and studying multiple points of view, apologetics, or even reading things from the early church. For 1 of these 13, "knowing the miracles performed by God and the Saints" makes it too hard to stay away. And another person said "Reading the entire Bible brought me back - turns out it's Catholic". 1 separate individual had a mixture of relationships and intellect by saying "Meaningful connections, practical application of the Catholic Social vision and the intellectual foundations of truth brought me back".

Sometimes all you need is a little faith, which is what 3 participants verified when they said faith in God is what brought them back. 1 in particular phrased it this way: "Faith in God, love of Jesus. Faith in His Church". At least 5 people talked about building a relationship with God and love of Him helped bring them back. A couple felt called by God to return, another couple talked about their love for God, and 1 said "just the fact that God is always blessing me".

8 participants stated that the Eucharist helped either bring them back or keep them faithful during hard times. Some said it was devotion to the Eucharist, 1 person stated that "there is a peace that I get from just sitting in Adoration". These 8 reinforced that there is a power that is found in the Eucharist.

4 people had an experience with Confession that helped bring them back. 1 of these 4 testified that "A small encounter I had after confession helped set me on the path away from doubt- hearing the right thing at the right time, so to speak". 3 people referred to Beauty from the Church as an inspiration for them, including 1 who found beauty in the Church during a chronic illness and another who complimented the beauty of the Cathedral in Saint Paul, MN.

The Holy Rosary became a powerful influence according to 4 people, including 1 person stating "The Holy Rosary changed my life" and 1 other person saying "The Rosary is my strength". 2 responders claimed growing up and reaching young adulthood helped their faith.1 participant simply stated "I could not find anything as good as Catholic liturgy and teaching".

Media played a role in the lives of 2 responders. 1 person gave credit to The Catholic Channel on Sirius XM radio, which led them to Catholic Answers, and the other person said that listening to EWTN helped them. For 1 responder, a parish mission helped. For another, it comes from regular Mass attendance and involvement in their parish. 1 person said they were brought back because of "the grace coming from living in a house with a Tabernacle Chapel".  And 1 person simply said "Mercy".

I wanted to end this section on a slightly more serious note, but with some hope added in as well. To lead this off, 1 person said "I came back because I felt like I was floating aimlessly". Another honest person admitted "I was knowingly deep in sexual sin. What brought me back was knowing I had no one left to turn to but God".

There's the testimony of this person: "The mess I had made of my life left me suicidal, I couldn't bear the pain and sorrow of my life anymore, and so I asked Him to take it. And He did, He brought me back, I think when there was so little left of me, so little hope in me, that I was able to be humble and ask Him for help".

And finally, bringing us back to the participant who said "Yes, I lost my belief in God, but He ended up being the only One there for me in the hardest point in my life". They continued that statement by saying "When I was depressed and had no friends in high school. He saved my life. There was no turning away from Him after that".

What Teachings of the Church Have You Struggled With in the Past? In the Present? How Have You Overcome That Struggle?

Here we go! The hot button topics! Everyone loves those...right? I think the beauty of seeing responses to this question is that, through honesty, it probably helps people connect with their fellow Catholics, creating a better sense of community. Like, "Hey, I've struggled with these issues too. Wait, you too? You mean I'm not the only one!?". The other nice thing about the responses is they offer some pretty good advice and life experiences for anyone who may be struggling with understanding a particular teaching. Please note that while various struggles are mentioned, it's never clarified whether this is a past or current struggle for each participant unless specifically stated in the latter part of this section.

11 people talked struggling with teachings about the Blessed Virgin Mary, mentioning things like the Rosary, perpetual virginity, and her Ascension [I'm assuming they're talking about the Assumption]. 3 other times there was mention about the Saints, especially concerning veneration or intercessions.

Abortion was brought up 7 times.

Some variation of the term Same Sex Marriage was used 11 times. There was some variation concerning the teaching of Homosexuality used about 11 times. 1 person had stated that the church teaching on marriage was something they struggled with, which was hard to tell if that meant same sex marriage specifically or something else, so I just left it by itself. 1 other person specifically referred to the teaching against a same sex couple adopting children as a struggle.

And that's not the only sex related responses. Man, a lot of people were focused on the sexy stuff here, or as 1 person put it "my teenage self wasn't a fan of the church teachings on sexual things" (that quote makes me laugh for some reason). The basic idea of struggling with the Church's sexual teachings was brought up from all angles by 10 people, including "sex is primarily for procreation", premarital sex, live-in boyfriends/girlfriends, what sexual practices are permissible within marriage, and abstinence.

3 mentions of chastity in some way. The words birth control popped up 10 times, while phrases about the teaching on contraception got mentioned 7 times, including contraception in marriage. The acronym NFP was used 6 times. NFP meaning Natural Family Planning (as a bachelor virgin, I have no practical knowledge to explain NFP further). 

The words masturbation and pornography were each used 3 times. 1 person talked about struggles with masturbation and pornography, while 2 others, very honest people, talked about addiction and masturbation. Infertility Treatments to help people unable to conceive children was brought up 2 times. 1 person wrote in "Condoms in the context of HIV in developing countries". 

Confession and the Sacrament of Penance got 6 mentions. Transubstantiation and the True Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist was brought up 3 times. Teachings revolving around divorce or remarried peoples was mentioned 3 times, including 1 insistence pertaining to Communion. Papal Infallibility was named 3 times, suffering 2 times, and the existence of God also got a few mentions.

Finally, there was at least 1 mention of struggling with the following 

• Needing to attend Mass every Sunday
• Socialist tendencies of Liberation Theology
• No salvation outside the Church.
• Mercy and forgiveness
• Angels as represented in the Summa Theologica
• The belief of Purgatory
• Existence of Hell
• Immigration
• That priests can’t marry
• The idea of free will and how God can simultaneously have a plan for the world, the mystery of the Trinity...and also charity for the enemy/just war

So now, let's examine how people overcame any struggles they had in the direct words of the participants. These responses are hard to summarize and categorize, or maybe the quotes are just better than anything I could put my own interpretation on. Education and Intellect were major themes when discussing how people overcome their struggles, being mentioned in a variety of ways: 

• I learned more about full church teachings and philosophy.
• I remind myself that I had no problems with the teaching when I was able to logically analyze it in an unbiased state.
• Realizing that the Church's wisdom is far greater than my own.
• I learned the context for why the Church holds these positions.
• After studying and understanding WHY the church teaches those things, it was easier.
• I have questioned everything, but I have always found in-depth, logical answers. In fact, every time I think I have come up with a new idea, thirty people--all holier than I--from various centuries have already written about the same idea.
• I finally both understood that people really believe it, knowingly, and so that maybe I could believe it too.
• Educating myself on Church teaching and the abortion process, it wasn't difficult to come in line with Church teaching.
• Overcame by learning where those beliefs came from plus deciding to trust the Church.
• I think knowledge of WHY the teachings are the way they are is very important.
• I overcame it by rational discussion and openness to the Holy Spirit.
• Through other Catholics leading me to Church documents I was able to better understand.
• What helps me is continued prayer and reading and seeking of understanding and mercy.
• Through patience and reading on the topics.
• [I did] my own reading and research.
• I researched why the church teaches its stances...and I came to agree.

That's not to say faith doesn't play a part either. We are people of BOTH Faith AND Reason. Again, in their own words:

• Through having faith in God was I able to overcome them. 
• I still struggle and it's faith that keeps me going.
• I trust that God has His reasons, so I will follow His will.
• There is simply too much that isn't explainable without Him.

4 people discussed how both time and prayer helped them overcome obstacles, including: 

• It took being away from the church. Living a faithless life in that lifestyle to realize that God wasn’t there. After returning, a lot of prayer and time spent with God.
• I figured if the Church was right about everything else they must be right about these issues. I put my faith and trust in God and prayed that he would help me see and understand more clearly. He always did!!
• I just follow teaching and pray for help.

The idea of time and prayer also came into effect with those overcoming struggles with Marian teachings:

• I overcame it by being less ignorant of it all. 
• Continuing to pursue a relationship with the Blessed Mother. 
• [Ascension/Assumption] Prayer for understanding.

When it came to accepting teachings revolving around homosexuality, the following were mentioned: 

• Studying Theology of the Body
• Aided by time, good teachers who explained the truth, and the documentary "Third Way".
• I took the class Christian Marriage at university. 
• I was open about how the teaching confused me. I asked questions to priests to get a fuller understanding of the teaching and how it related to present day life.
• I had the teaching explained to me by a friend, I was able to understand the nature of the human person and why it is wrong to act on same sex attraction.

Then there's the general collection of sex-related responses:

• The person who said "chastity (in thoughts) was difficult before I was married" then explained "now the mystery is gone and it's not as difficult for me" (which makes me laugh).
• 1 person who struggled with contraception presented this life experience: 
• Reading "Good News about Sex and Marriage" 
• Doing marriage prep
• Learning/practicing NFP with my husband.
• For someone who struggled with both contraception and sex before marriage: "Having a Theology of the Body background of engaging, honest, simple, not overly-preachy truth was a huge help".
• For 1 individual struggling with Sexuality, an act of faith by "trusting that Christ speaks through His Church".
• "I struggled with masturbation because I was addicted to it. After a while, I couldn't deny what my addiction was doing to my life. I now completely agree with and submit to the Church's teaching:.
• 1 person testified to struggles with teachings on masturbation, pornography, and sex: "I researched every doubt and couldn't argue. I can honestly say I was addicted. From there, what helped me overcome it was reading intellectual arguments from the Church, praying only the Sorrowful mysteries [of the Rosary], saying the Anima Cristi, a few litanies, and the chaplet on the wounds of Jesus. I strictly prayed these prayers for a few weeks, until I saw more progress and eased up slowly...I've been successfully chaste for almost 6 months, starting on St. Maria Goretti's feast!".
• Infertility treatments: "we choose our faith over in vitro/ in utero".
• Condoms in the context of HIV in developing countries: "Understanding that the health of the soul is more important than the health of the body helps".
• I understand the detriment that birth control causes.
• "I did a lot of reading and research and came to understand" the beauty of the teaching on birth control.
• "It wasn't until I was married that I realized the importance of this teaching [on birth control]. Apologetics on the subject helped as well".

For those who struggled with Confession:

• Looking at the CCC [Catechism of the Catholic Church] and the Scriptures that are cited in support of the Sacrament changed my mind.
• Found a parish where the priests make Confession readily available so that I am positively peer pressured into going.
• It wasn't until I attended Confession in the Byzantine tradition that I was healed of my fear of confession.

Suffering:

• I primarily deal with this by attempting to draw upon a logical mindset.
• Learning the value of redemptive suffering through daily trials and more prayer.

Concerning struggles with the Eucharist, 1 person said: "It wasn't until I had read 'Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist' by Brant Petre that I came to understand and fully believe".

Other miscellaneous responses about overcoming obstacles included: reading Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Dr. Ken Miller, debating with a group of devout and learned friends, and reliance on the examples and intercessions of the Saints.

Currently, What Are the Daily Things You Do to Practice Your Faith?

A great majority of these answers involved practices or actions that are inconsistent, or at least are more weekly or monthly in practice. Majority of the people responded that they try to do X,Y,Z every day, but added that it doesn't necessarily happen every day. So, there'll still be a lot of key words and phrases here to answer the question, just with the background understanding that the practices are not necessarily a true "daily" practice in the strictest sense. I can't fault anybody if they're at least making an effort to do some of the following on a regular basis to know God and glorify Him more.

Of course, the most common, almost knee-gut reaction, was saying "Praying" or "Prayer" or "Pray" in some variation. There were 65 types of these general prayer responses, including 3 specific mentions of mental prayer, 1 person saying "prayer with spouse", 1 person saying "my holy hour [an hour devoted to prayer] is the most important", and 1 person saying "Pray and keep God's law". Specific prayers or styles of prayer included the Anima Christi, Angelus, saying "Thank you" to God regularly, contemplation/meditation, "prayers from my 1962 Roman Missal", and 3 people making mention of praying a novena.

The most popular type of prayer specified in these responses was the Holy Rosary. 45 responders used Rosary in their response. Some other prayers, in connection to the Rosary or of similar style, that were mentioned included the Divine Mercy Chaplet (4 times), Chaplet of St. Michael, Little Crown of the Blessed Virgin, and seasonal Marian hymns.

Then there were the specific mentions of what I would call bedside prayer, or perhaps a better way to phrase it is "Prayer in the Morning & Night". These are the prayers that are said first thing in the morning as well as at the end of the day, perhaps while kneeling beside a bed (hence bedside prayer?). 17 people talked about praying at morning and/ or at night. Types of prayers mentioned included Morning Offering, nightly examination of conscience, "a few Haily Mary's before bed", nighttime prayer with family, and "Charismatic praise & worship in the morning (alone)".

At least 12 participants mentioned some variation of what I'll term as sporadic/intentional prayer. These are the kind of prayers that are not pre-planned, but just happen throughout the day as need be. For some, that meant just talking to God. For others, it's praying for the repose of the soul of anyone that passed away that day or making the sign of the cross at various moments throughout the day. This kind of prayer is often casual and small in length, but it occurs throughout the entirety of the day and it helps emphasis that communication factor of our relationships with God.

11 mentions specifically revolving around The Divine Office/ Liturgy of the Hours, whether it was just the Compline late in the day, Vespers, Lauds, or just plain old Divine Office or Liturgy of the Hours. Some variation of a mealtime prayer was mentioned around 7 times. 6 participants mentioned praying specific devotionals or for the intercession of specific saints.There were 4 mentions of the Chotki/Jesus Prayer as part of the daily faith experience.

18 responders discussed reading the Bible as a daily practice they do or are starting. These kind of responses included reading the Gospel and the other readings for Daily Mass, Bible Study participation, and at least 2 people mentioned reading both the Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

30 people in this survey talked about making an effort to attend  Daily Mass. At least 7 people talked about spending time in Adoration. 5 people referred to Confession as an important practice in their faith lives.

11 other people mentioned some form of spiritual reading, reading texts focused on the faith or written by fellow Catholics. These responses involved reading about saints, reading the actual writings of Doctors and Saints of the Church, reading other Catholic non fiction, or just simply learning and studying.

For 11 people, interacting with children is something influential for them. This included instructing their own kids or teaching kids through religious education programs.4 people emphasized discussion about the faith with family and friends as part of their daily faith journey.

4 people emphasized liturgical living as part of their daily faith practices. This meant that they celebrate saints' feasts days, fast on appropriate days, and adjust their lives according to the liturgical season we're in (Lent, Advent, etc.).

8 people responding to this question talked about media resources as part of their daily practice. These included Christian music, Catholic radio, movies, Catholic podcasts, Lighthouse Media CD, and faith related videos.

4 people use journaling to practice their faith daily. At least 6 people talked about wearing a scapular, a miraculous medal, or another sacred medal. 6 people answered by naming groups they are part of (3 Facebook-related, 2 Catholic women's groups and 1 young adult group). 3 responders talked about starting Nineveh 90, a program combining spiritual practices and physical fitness, this year.

Finally, sacred images at the home was mentioned by 4 participants. They talked about their religious art, crucifixes, and Icons. There was 1 specific quote that made me chuckle by imagining the reactions of anti-Catholic people who see it: "I pray and venerate the crucifix in my home".

Stay tuned for the conclusion of the Results in the next blog post Part 3!

Keeler’s Valuable Films List

As I may have mentioned in previous posts, I am a fan of the Vatican Film List. A list of 45 movies organized under three categories of "Religion" "Morality" and "Art". While there are still plenty of movies on that list that I need to see, it got me thinking of what my own 45 movies list would look like. So I made one.

Neither of these lists are "Best" or "Need-to-See" lists per se, but they are best stated as simply "Important" movies worth checking out. The Vatican Film List was actually compiled to celebrate the exact 100 year anniversary since the beginning of film making. My list is perhaps more simply just great movies that I have seen, made from early years of film making to present day. I repeat, these are simply movies that I have personally seen and may not even be the very best of their category, especially since it's just subjective personal opinion.

For my list, I decided to use three categories as well, but my labels include "Catholic", "Moral Value", and "Artistic Value". This is an attempt to separate my list from the other and to try to match my criteria for valuable movies with quality movies that represent the Catholic faith. The movies listed under each category are not in any particular order of rank, just a simple list of 15 movies that best represent each category. I tried as best I could to not repeat Vatican Film List picks, but some of these movies I put on the list BECAUSE I only watched them after seeing them on the Vatican Film List and I was impressed by their film making. Under the "Artistic Value" category, I chose 15 films to represent 15 different genres or styles of film. Also, I repeat, these are only movies that I have personally seen.

Catholic

-Of Gods and Men (2010)

-I Confess (1953)

-Roma, Citta Aperta (1945)

-The Flowers of St. Francis (1950)

-On the Waterfront (1954)

-Going My Way (1944)

-Henry V (1989)

-The Rite (2011)

-Calvary (2014)

-A Man for All Seasons (1966)

-The Song of Bernadette (1943)

-Becket (1964)

-Monsieur Vincent (1947)

-The Scarlet and the Black (1983)

-The Passion of the Christ (2004)

Talking Points: This is basically my list of 10 Highly Recommendable Catholic Movies with some extras thrown in, so I'm only going to explain just a few of my choices here.

I did not watch I Confess until after creating my previous list. I consider it to be an underrated Hitchcock classic. It’s a great examination of the Seal of the Confessional and also humanizes priests as men who know what love and romance is even before being ordained. The end goes a little goofy, but it’s the dedication that each character has toward achieving their desired goal that drives this movie's great use of tension. In a movie where you already know the answer to the mystery, it sure is thrilling.

Roma: Citta Aperta shares many similarities with The Scarlet and the Black since they both deal with the Nazi occupation of Rome during World War II and the stealthy response from the Catholics in and out of the Vatican.  What separates the two is Roma is an Italian movie made right on the heels of the end of World War II, filmed right within Rome itself, which emphasizes the realism of the movie.

The Flowers of St. Francis, the English translation of the title of this Italian film, is a series of vignettes focused on how St. Francis founded the Franciscan Order and some of the stories about him and his first monks during that time. I’m told that real monks were used in the supporting roles, which adds to the realism, and it really really makes you believe that you are watching slices of life about this saint and his companions right in the 13^th century.

Moral Value

-Babette’s Feast (1987)

Moral of the Story: Food is awesome and you never know when your simple good deeds will provide unforeseen rewards

-The Bicycle Thief (1948)

Moral of the Story: Just because someone does an evil deed to you, is it justifiable for you to also do an evil deed out of desperation?

-It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

Moral of the Story: Helping people is worthwhile and bears fruit, even when you cannot see it on a regular basis.

-Schindler’s List (1993)

Moral of the Story: It is better to give than to receive and people have worth. Also, Nazis are evil.

-The Last Samurai (2003)

Moral of the Story: Redemption is possible.

-The Quiet Man (1952)

Moral of the Story: Peace is the ultimate good, but true strength and courage are required to move forward.

-The Lord of the Ring: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

Moral of the Story: You don't have to be grand or big to do something heroic. Also, evil is bad and good is good.

-The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)

Moral of the Story: Killing the bad guy is not always the right answer.

- Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)

Moral of the Story: There's a difference between the obligation of duty and personal ambition.

-Groundhog Day (1993)

Moral of the Story: Helping people is more important than your own selfish desires.

-The Prestige (2006)

Moral of the Story: Revenge can only lead to disastrous consequences.

-Sergeant York (1941)

Moral of the Story: Killing is wrong, but sometimes you've got to step up and save people.

-The Mission (1986)

Moral of the Story: There's always a chance for forgiveness and peace is the right way to live. Also, colonialism is evil.

-Lilies of the Field (1963)

Moral of the Story: Community is vital to life and sometimes you can find a mission and purpose in places you wouldn't expect.

-Au Revoir Les Enfants (1987)

Moral of the Story:Community is vital to life and you can make friends with anyone if you give them a chance. Also, not all Nazis are evil?

Artistic Value

-Animation: Princess Mononoke (1997)

I was close to copying the Vatican Film List and putting Fantasia in this slot since it is such a piece of high quality art and the hard work has withstood the test of time, but I think that this choice showcases an entire history of animation within its runtime. Hayao Miyazaki and his Studio Ghibli are one of the most renowned animation companies today because they bring a specific artistic style, rooted in their country’s culture and history, to life. The shots of nature and the spirits that inhabit the world are gorgeous, but the animation is also not afraid to give time to the grotesque and violent. If you wanted to prove the value of hand-drawn 2D animation in the modern context, this movie is the best way to go about it.

-Western: Stagecoach (1939)

While I considered other options, including other John Wayne movies, this is the definitive Western to me. The actors portray two things: caricatures of cliché Western characters and people with heavy personal struggles based on their pasts. There’s the gun play and horse riding that Westerns are known for, the location shots are infamous in their ability to define the genre, and the people all seem like they come straight from the last couple decades of the 19^th century in Southwest United States. It's reserved in the gritty violence and anti-heroism that later defined the western genre and instead allows genuine humor and drama to create an enduring story and heartfelt characters.

-Comedy: Hot Fuzz (2007)

This movie is comedic in how serious it presents itself. It knows how to spoof a genre properly while simultaneously tell its own unique story. This movie invites multiple viewings because of the little inside jokes and clues it leaves along the way. Despite some profanity and modern mindsets, it is never vulgar and nowhere near as inappropriate as most other movies passing themselves off as "comedies". The characters are all cooky and fun, as are the action scenes in the last third of the movie. Seriously, the delivery of the lines in this movie is so dry and dramatic that you can't help but laugh at them. The reason this movie beats out the more quotable Big Lebowski is this one actually has a coherent plot and has restraint in areas that Lebowski lacks.

-Horror: Psycho (1960)

For the record, other horror movies like The Exorcist and even The Conjuring were in close contention for making this list. However, sometimes the natural is even scarier than the supernatural, and Psycho is the best popular example of something macabre happening in ordinary life. All of the most thrilling scenes are memorable because of their power of suggestive fright, including the shower scene, the basement scene, and the final shot of the movie. The black and white cinematography on top of the music score adds so much atmosphere to what may otherwise just be a melodrama with some absurd moments. This work is also one of the most accessible movies of the horror genre since it does not rely on gruesome blood effects and demonic voices.

-Science Fiction: Star Wars (1977)

I know. I’m surprised by this myself. I spend so much time acknowledging the Star Wars movies as just average movies given overrated praise by fanboys. Yet, if I had to pick one movie that encapsulated science-fiction and was a good representation of influence from the past and insight into the future of filmmaking, it would have to be the original Star Wars movie. There’s different planets, laser weapons, robots, space travel, alien creatures, and some philosophical dialogue. The ability of the filmmaking team to utilize little models and standard technology to create such life-like imagery is worth commending. 

-Documentary: It Might Get Loud (2008)

 I cannot say that I’m watched too many documentaries before and I am sure that there are others that deserve higher praise than this one. For my own part though, from the documentaries that I have seen overall, this is the one I hold as a standard to compare the quality of other documentaries I see. It tells its story of the history of the electric guitar, thereby the history of rock music, from different angles in a fun, entertaining, and engaging way. All three guitarists bring a different perspective and represent a different period in rock’n’roll. You want the movie to keeping going as it heads toward the finale and you want to rewatch because of the great music and the intriguing behind-the-scenes approach you're given into the world of rock music.

-Adventure: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

If there was one movie that had the atmosphere and fun of old school adventure movies with modern technology and respectable dialogue, it's Raiders. The introductory scene especially looks and feels like it could've been made back in the 40s, but the longer the movie goes on, not only does it get better, but it gets bolder and more spectacular, like a modern movie. You get all of the exotic locations and fight scenes that action adventures are known for, as well as the intriguing relationships that are found in love interests, sidekicks, and bad guys. And who doesn't love a movie where Nazis are the bad guys? The characters are not caricatures or cliches, but they are also allowed to be a little melodramatic in proper movie fashion. The imagery, the locations, and the quotes from this movie are all memorable.

-War: Saving Private Ryan (1998)

There are some war movies that are all about the gunplay and get you pumped up by the exciting action. There are some war movies that are more focused on the philosophies about war, violence, and peace and don't care too much about the weaponry. There are some war movies that just want to recreate for you what happened during World War II. Saving Private Ryan is all of the above. You get such gritty violent realism that it can be hard to make it past the opening scene. There are plenty of other tense and bloody action scenes that honestly depict the horrific violence involved in war. The movie also takes time to build its characters in quiet moments, giving us insight and understanding about war from regular Joes who had nothing to do with the military before the US got involved in WWII. Despite how gruesome the movie can be, it's also worth repeated viewings and pays tribute to regular but real heroes.

-Silent: Modern Times (1936)

Just like the documentary category, I can't say I've sat through many silent movies, so I don't have much to back up this choice. I saw this movie because it was on the Vatican Film List and I can see why it was chosen. There's some thematic exploration of ideas in the industrial work world of the time as well as some interestingly choreographed scenes. Charlie Chaplin has remained popular for his comedy for a reason, and he knows how to make people laugh with goofy faces, body language, and awkward situations. Even the few moments of sound and dialogue are not necessary for this movie to function well. It works because of the grand set pieces, the goofy interaction between the characters, and the physical way that the story is told.

-Black & White: Seven Samurai (1954)

Again, this is one genre that I do not have too much experience with, so out of my limited knowledge of movies that fit this category, I think Seven Samurai fits the best. Under this heading, you might think I'm also talking about modern movies that are shot in black and white, like Sin City, The Artist, or Schindler's List, but those movies are just copying an artistic style, mainly an artistic style that existed at an older time when colored movies were too experimental or too expensive to produce. What also separates this category from something like the Silent movie genre is how dialogue and sound impacts the movie experience.

I do not think this movie would work in a new, colored setting, which is why any remake of this movie has had to set their project in a different time and location. The lights and shadows in this movie leave an impact on how the viewer understands characters and their motives. You do not need to have all the color that later Kurosawa samurai movies have to appreciate the spectacle of the realistic costumes and props. The action scenes, once you get to them, are thrilling even when they're quiet. The dialogue is poetic while remaining realistic, and there's even moments where tension is built up because of a lack of dialogue so that when you do finally hear something screamed or whispered it gives you an emotional punch. The clash of the sword, the sound of horses trotting, and gruff Japanese voices all bring history to life in a way a silent movie cannot.

-Superhero: The Avengers (2012)

The Dark Knight is probably the best made movie involving a comic book hero . However, if there was one movie that you could use as the definitive superhero movie, meaning that it tells a full comic book story in a semi-realistic-mostly-fantastical way with a cast of colorful characters that gives you the whole arc of emotions within comic books, I'd argue that The Avengers is that one definitive movie. You get all of the action that's involved in comic books, including urban destruction in a major city. You get all of the special powers that superheroes are known to have as well as the futuristic high tech gadgetry. You get the good vs. evil storyline with some plot twist elements. Finally, you get the humor and character interactions that bring some lighthearted goodness into a setting that would otherwise be gritty and depressing.

-High Art: Tree of Life (2011)

Many movies that are high art "arthouse" pieces come off as arrogant, slow, and involved in too much thinking to be enjoyed by anyone other than movie snobs who live off of watching movies that the general masses despise. However, I think that Tree of Life is an accessible and worthwhile arthouse movie if the viewer is willing to let it guide them on the journey. For my full take on what makes Tree of Life so great, read my review here.

-Romantic Comedy: The Princess Bride (1987)

             
This movie is quite literally the definition of a genre. It is primarily a romance focused on two lovers fighting to be with one another amongst beautiful locations, with soft serene music in the background. It is also primarily a comedy with witty word play and sarcastic dialogue leaping from the actors’ mouths. Now, you might usually just associate this movie with adventure or comedy, but I think the romance is an important aspect of the plot as well as the characters. It also is not anywhere near as crude or modern as most movies that are usually put under this genre category. The Princess Bride is something that both women and men, kids and adults, can watch and enjoy time and again.

-Musical: Fiddler on the Roof (1971)

            
 If you are going to turn a stage musical into a film, it has to be a different experience than just watching something live on stage. These live musicals on TV are essentially just watching a stage production through the scope of a TV screen. Some musicals, like Joseph….Dreamcoat, do the same thing by introducing their movie as a show within a show. A movie version of a musical needs to transport you to physical locations, bringing the setting to real life. That’s the fault of most classic musicals, the characters are still clearly on sets and sound stages. A movie version of a musical also needs to stand on its own as a good piece of art without relying on the quality of the stage version. That’s the fault of Les Miserables and Phantom of the Opera, their stage versions are so good that you’d rather see them live than watch the inferior movie versions, which also means that quality of the singing comes into play. Based on all this criteria and given my love for Catholicism in movies, you’d might think that this means that Sound of Music would fit in this slot.

However, my pick for this spot is actually Fiddler on the Roof and this is for a few different reasons. One reason is atmosphere. Fiddler on the Roof really provides some serious atmosphere and does so with reverence to the spirituality of its people as well as the place that it is set in. You truly believe that you are in a poor village in rural Russia, even in moments when they’re filming on a sound stage. The movie is not afraid to slowly roam over the landscape or quietly allow the emotions of the moment to settle in. Sound of Music has some good atmosphere and quiet moments, but its focus seems to be to travel quickly from moment to moment to tell the story at a quick pace. Sound of Music as a movie also takes some liberties with the story of the musical, moving songs and moments to places different than where they are in the stage production. Fiddler on the Roof is the exact same story in both movie and stage versions. There's also the reverence of the religion of its characters. Sound of Music has some scenes involving Catholicism, but it's not pervasive in the characters' lives, even Maria who struggles with her vocation. Fiddler puts a sharp focus on Judaism and how it impacts the lives and culture of the people in Anatevka. The songs, character movements, and set pieces are rooted in the religion of the main characters.

-Sports: The Sandlot (1993)

I dare you to find a movie that loves its sport as much as The Sandlot loves baseball. While some sports movies use the sport as a vehicle to push the theme or purpose of the story (*cough*RemembertheTitans*cough*), the characters of The Sandlot love to play baseball because of how fun it is. You see them enjoying the pitching, catching, throwing, and sweating of baseball, as well as the rivalries and camaraderie that stems from building a baseball team. The heroes and legends within the movie are surrounded in the atmosphere of baseball. The movie is incredibly quotable, just as fun to watch as a kid as an adult, and you learn some life lessons without it being too obvious and hard hitting.

Saints: Role Models for Men- Sts. Peter and Paul

Yesterday was the Feast Day of Sts. Peter and Paul. Both are awesome and today I decided to highlight some of the incredible things we learn about these men from Scripture.

St. Peter

Made a Mistake/ Picked Himself Up

St. Peter seemed to kind of be the guy who spoke before he acted often during Jesus's ministry. He seemed to think he had the answer and knew what to do, and then through Jesus learned that he was wrong. However, during the Passion of Jesus Christ, we see Peter stumble the greatest. Even though Jesus warned him of the three denials before the cock crows, Peter seems to forget it as he quickly denies knowing who Jesus is three times. Big mistake!

St. Peter, however, becomes the Church's first Pope and one of the first martyrs. How? He admits that he was wrong, and works to set thing right. After Jesus' resurrection, Peter replies to Jesus three times "Lord, you know I love you". He takes on the role of leadership once Jesus ascends into Heaven and leads the early Christians through the beginnings of their evangelization and persecution.

Boss Speaker

During Pentecost, after the Holy Spirit came to the Apostles, they began speaking in various languages and preaching to the Jews. Many were confused, and others thought the Apostles were drunk. St. Peter replied with the first century equivalent of "Dude, it's only 9am!" before launching into an epic speech explaining why it was that the Apostles could speak in tongues and he taught the crowds about the truth of Jesus. At the end, St. Peter asked the people to be baptized in the name of Jesus, and 3000! people were added to the number of Christians that day.

Not to mention, during this time period, Peter and the Apostles were brought before the Pharisees. When the Pharisees would accuse them of crimes and blasphemies and attempt to have the Apostles dig themselves into a hole, Peter always came back with the best response to keep from falling into the Pharisees' traps.

Man of Faith

So one night the Apostles were sailing across the Sea of Galilee and a storm disturbs their boat. They see Jesus walking on the water, at first thinking that it was just a ghost or vision. Peter called out and Jesus invited him out onto the water. Because of his love for Jesus and his faith, Peter stepped out of that boat and walked on top of that rough sea water to join Jesus.

Granted, Peter eventually began to fall and Jesus had to rescue him and rebuke him for his little faith, but just think how amazing it is that, because of his love for Jesus and his desire to follow him, Peter was able to walk on top of the sea even for a short time.

St. Paul

Change of Heart

St. Paul was a strict and dedicated Jewish man before his conversion. He was so dedicated, that when Christianity first came into being, St. Paul (also named Saul) would capture and persecute any Christian person he could find. Just think about that. The man who wrote many of the letters found in the New Testament started out by imprisoning Christian people. However, after a miraculous encounter with Jesus, St. Paul converted and became one of the greatest evangelizers the Church has ever known.

Deep Conviction

St. Paul's characteristic dedication transferred well into his life as a Christian. Often times, when preaching about Jesus in various towns and synagogues, Paul would cause such trouble that mobs of people would gather to beat and stone him. There is one story in Acts that explains that Paul was injured so bad from one stoning that people thought he was dead and dragged him outside the city wells. However, Paul woke up, got to his feet, and walked right back into the city to continue evangelizing to the people like a boss.

Reaching Out

The early Christian movement before Paul was focused on the conversion of the Jewish people. However, it was St. Paul who began to reach out to the Gentiles, the non-Jewish, pagan members of society. At first, this caused a stir within the Christian community, however, St. Peter had a vision and agreed that it was the right thing to do to reach out to the Gentiles. It was St. Paul who was the primary evangelizer to the Gentiles and without him, it might have been some time before Christianity became its own entity that differed from Judaism.

Saints: Role Models for Men- St. John de Brebeuf

I was first introduced to the legacy of this man by my friend Lee Brokaw, who was one of the FOCUS missionaries at Missouri State University during my first two years there.

St. John de Brebeuf was a missionary himself. He traveled with fellow French priests to the Canadian territory. He became one of the first Europeans to explore and chronicle the journey from Quebec to 800 miles west into mostly unfamiliar territory. There he became acquainted with the Huron people. He spent many years evangelizing to them, informing them of and showing them God and the Catholic faith, which they had never known before.

Just imagine the scene. Being far, far away from home or familiar civilization. Becoming part of a community that primarily speaks a foreign language and lives a lifestyle that is totally different than anything you experienced or grew up in, and trying to convert those people. Yet, St. John and his companions did just that in order to reach out to the Huron nation and help them develop their relationships with God. He lived among the people, got to know their customs, became fluent in their language, and wrote out a catechism for them.

St. John overcame obstacles in establishing his relationship with the people. They were, at first, very nervous about him because of his race and whenever something horrible like disease rampaged through, he would get the first blame. Yet, because of his perseverance, St. John managed to evangelize to the people effectively.

Eventually, members of the Iroquois tribe attacked the Huron and captured St. John de Brebeuf and his company. They were martyred in a very brutal, gory, horrific torture. Yet St. John persevered happily. He did not harbor harm or anger against his torturers and killers. He is said to have kissed the stake he was tied to while they slowly killed him and prayed during his torturous death.

St. John de Brebeuf, along with his company and other French missionaries, are great examples for those of us nervous of traveling to new places and unfamiliar territory. They show how to persevere whenever a situation proves difficult. St. John especially shows us how to treat all people with kindness and how to face death happily, rather than with anger in our hearts.

Saints: Role Models for Men- St. Anthony Claret & the Blessed Claretian Martyrs of Barbastro

It's a double header today. Mainly because I wanted to write about the martyrs from Barbastro, yet figured it would be good to introduce the founder of their order first, whom I also wanted to write about. So, here we go!

St. Anthony Claret

First off, no, this is not the St. Anthony that you ask to help you find lost items. St. Anthony Claret is a Spanish priest and bishop. At age 42, he established a religious institute of missionaries with five priests. This became the Claretian Order, members of whom I have met at Catholic Campus Ministry in Springfield. He lived back in the 19th century and became officially canonized in 1950. There are many reasons why I think St. Anthony Claret is a tremendous role model for men.

Jack of All Trades & World Traveler

He was a Weaver and Designer in textile mills in Barcelona. He learned Latin and Printing while working in the mills as well. He was mainly a Writer and Missionary after he became a priest. I'm always impressed whenever I come across men who are multi-talented, and St. Anthony Claret is definitely a man who had experience in a variety of areas. I also am inspired by people who enjoy writing.

This man helped establish Religious Publishing House, a Catholic publishing company in Spain, and wrote or published over 200 pieces of literature. He was able to write about something he is passionate about, which is something we should always strive for in any area of our work. He also traveled to places like Paris, the Canary Islands, Cuba, Madrid, and the Vatican for the First Vatican Council. What guy doesn't have an urge to go on a journey to far away places and experience adventures around the world?

Dedication of Faith

St. Anthony Claret always placed emphasis on the Eucharist and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, whether on mission or retreat or whenever. Both of these, the Eucharist and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, play a huge role in the life of Claretians today. It is said that the Rosary did not leave his hand. St. Anthony Claret also reformed the Archdiocese of Santiago, Cuba, as its bishop. He was known for hearing lots of confessions. He also became infamous in his diocese for opposing concubinage and instructing slaves. It takes courage to stand up for truth amid opposition, but St. Anthony Claret did just that in order to help his diocese grow closer to God.

Assassination Attempt

This man faced an assassin and lived! An assassin in Cuba was hired, but failed to kill St. Anthony Claret. The assassin managed to slash him across his face and wrist before being captured. However, when the assassin was on the verge of receiving the death penalty, St. Anthony Claret intervened and managed to get his would-be killer a prison term instead. He showed us how to be merciful and forgiving by helping save the life of a man who tried to kill him.

Queen

After returning to Spain, he was asked to become the Chaplain to the Queen. However, he did so on three conditions: He resided outside of the palace, he only came to hear the Queen's confessions or to instruct the children, and he would be exempt from court. I think this shows a great example for all of us because St. Anthony did not seek power and politics, but he still preached and did his duty wherever he was called.


Blessed Claretian Martyrs of Barbastro, Spain

I learned of these men when I came to Catholic Campus Ministry. At CCM, there is a beautiful mural that greets visitors. It is a painting of the 51 men, the seminarians, brothers, and priests that were killed in the midst of the Spanish Civil War.

Many of these men were between the ages of 21 and 25. Those that were not killed immediately were imprisoned and awaited execution.

Yet, every single one of them remained faithful to God! They all willingly accepted their martyrdom with joy. They were also very forgiving of their executors and shared their happiness to die for Jesus Christ in notes that they left for their loved ones on Earth.

All of us men, especially men my age, can learn from these martyrs how to joyfully accept God's will and be forgiving and loving towards all people, especially those who persecute or hurt us.