Plures efficimur, quoties metumur a vobis; semen est sanguis christianorum
Tertullian wrote these words over 1800 years ago, in or around the year 192 AD.
Often translated as the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church, apparently a more accurate translation is: we multiply whenever we are mown down by you; the blood of Christians is seed.
The Execution of the Coptic Christians
I have been thinking about this quote a lot lately, in light of the execution of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians on a beach in Libya by IS militants just a couple of weeks ago.
The video of the execution was titled: A message signed with blood to the nation of the Cross, and apparently ended with the one of the militants saying: “Today we are south of Rome. We will conquer Rome with Allah’s permission.”
While there is some disagreement about what the IS militants mean by “Rome” (some say it is a symbolic term referring to Turkey, the United States, or the western world in general), it is clear that Christianity is at least one of the targets of IS.
In the last couple of days, we have heard more harrowing stories. An estimated 150 Christians were abducted by IS militants. The abduction is reported to be the first of its kind, and sent thousands of others fleeing the area.
While all of this is harrowing and awful, I can still hear the words of Tertullian.
Commemorating the Martyrs
The Coptic Orthodox Church has already announced that the 21 men will be recognised and commemorated as martyrs. We can be confident that their intercession before the Lord will see many graces outpoured on the Church, and particularly those being persecuted.
When I think about how the strength of their witness and their prayers will increase and intensify now that they are in heaven, I hear Tertullian’s words.
We multiply whenever we are mown down by you; the blood of Christians is seed.
When I hear that plans are already underway to build Churches in Egypt dedicated to these 21 martyrs, and consider the Masses which will be offered and the prayers said inside these Churches, I hear Tertullian’s words.
We multiply whenever we are mown down by you; the blood of Christians is seed.
When I read the words of one of the victims’ brothers, who spoke of forgiveness and who thanked the militants for leaving the profession of faith of the executed in the video, because it only strengthened his own faith, and I think of the number of people who will pray for the intercession of these martyrs when they must stand publicly for their faith, I hear Tertullian’s words.
We multiply whenever we are mown down by you; the blood of Christians is seed.
When I think of how these events have brought together Christians of many denominations in prayerful solidarity, in what Pope Francis is calling the “ecumenism of blood”, and I realise that our family is expanding to stand alongside our brothers and sisters in other denominations, I hear Tertullian’s words.
We multiply whenever we are mown down by you; the blood of Christians is seed.
All of this strengthens my faith. I know that in everything God works for good with those who love Him (cf Romans 8:28).
But it also challenges me.
In order for Tertullian’s words to remain true today, I know that I am called to respond to the martyrdom of these men and the countless others murdered for professing the name of Christ. I am called to be part of the multiplication of which he speaks. My life is supposed to contribute to the growth for which the blood of these men was seed.
And I’m pretty sure you are too.
Maybe we can ask for their intercession to find out how it will manifest in each of our lives.
To conclude, I leave you with this beautiful prayer, penned by Elizabeth Scalia (The Anchoress blog):
Image may be NSFW.
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Originally published at Catholic Talk
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