White and Red

Today, May 21st , is the Memorial in the Catholic Church for Saint Christopher Magallanes who was martyred along with 21 diocesan priests and 3 devout laymen.  They were all members of the Cristeros Movement under the suppression of the anti-Catholic Mexican government.
The priest at daily mass today chose the Optional Memorial to honor Saint Christopher and the other men whose lives were taken for their faith.  He spoke about in his homily, Red Martyrdom and White Martyrdom.  I don't really think I have ever been familiar with the phrase of the White Martyrdom before.  He said the red martyrdom is the easy one, you are killed and it is over.  The white martyrdom is the hard one because you have to die to self.  You have to trim the branches of yourself as a tree so that it can get more sun and grow.  Everyday you need to trim yourself : trim your tongue when you speak ill of others, trim your words when they are judgmental, trim your selfishness when you don't want to do something for someone else because it is inconvenient.  When you continue to trim you die to yourselves for Christ and with this comes suffering, this is an ongoing martyrdom.
I thank God for priests who speak with such beauty and truth.  This speaks to all of us who are in the struggle to live in the world but not of the world. May all who are sons and daughters of the church wear the "glow" of White Martyrdom.
Saint Christopher Magallanes and his companions, Pray for Us. Vivo Christo Rey!