a different kind of martyrdom

St Commodianus talks to us today about a different kind of martyrdom in A Year with the Church Fathers. He says that there are little martyrdoms that we face every day. And it brings to mind the teachings of Jesus, that we should die to ourselves every day.

If you haven't read (or listened to) The Story of a Soul by St.Therese of Lisieux, you're missing out. You can click on the title and listen to the entire book for free on YouTube. She tells us all about these little martyrdoms. She shares with us the times in her life when she did things that she hated, talked to people she didn't like, accepted food that she found disgusting, as a form of dying to her own desires. She found delight in these little daily acts of dying to her sinful self.

We can learn a great deal from her. After listening to those YouTube videos several times, I find myself learning how to use unpleasant circumstances in my life to bring me closer to God. Today at work, there were several times when unpleasant things happened. But when I remembered St Therese, I realized I could use those moments to die to myself, and experience a little martyrdom.

St Therese wanted to be a martyr, and she said that God answered that prayer, not by her being killed by a gun or a sword after demanding that she renounce her faith... but rather in the thousands of little ways that she died to her self throughout her lifetime. We can learn so much from her.

God, thanks for teaching us about the little martyrdom. Help us to use our daily sufferings as a way to know You better.