In Memoriam
King Henry's
gallant defence of the true Catholic and Apostolic Faith to refute Luther's
doctrines gained him a Papal Title: Fidei Defensor, Defender of the Faith.
It is an undeniable
historical fact that the English Defender of the Faith did not remain in the
Faith of the Church he once defended so valiantly.
Nevertheless, his
no less valiant Lord Chancellor, Sir Thomas More, the celebrated Bishop of
Rochester, John Fisher, and over 50 valorous English Martyrs, honoured the title
and paid with their lives for their fidelity to the Apostolic teaching, gaining
for themselves the glorious crown of martyrdom.
In many ways,
History repeats itself.
In the 20th
Century, more Catholics died for the Faith than in all the nineteen previous
centuries combined. In the Soviet Union, China, The Middle East, Africa, Asia,
nearly everywhere, hundreds of thousands of loyal sons and daughters of the
Church imitated the fidelity to Jesus Christ lived by Saints Thomas More and
John Fisher. These brave martyrs joined the ranks of the early Christians who
died out of love of, and fidelity to, our Divine Redeemer.
But there is also
another kind of martyrdom that may be seen at times as more painful to endure
than the sudden death for Christ: It is the tireless, lifelong work of a
missionary, a confessor, a preacher or a layman whose life is dedicated to serve
God Our Lord and His Church.
True Defenders of
the Faith, they suffer with the Church, at times alone, often misunderstood, and
frequently let down by those who ought to give them support.
However, they remain steadfastly faithful to God and themselves, unceasingly
striving
to
promote the Kingdom of Christ and dedicate their entire lives to its triumph.
We have been
privileged to know one of such men. With profound respect and veneration, we
mention his name here:
Plínio Corrêa de
Oliveira
A fervent devotee
of the Blessed Virgin Mary, ardent adorer of the Blessed Sacrament and
unquestionably faithful to the See of Peter, from his youth on he dedicated his
life to the propagation of the Faith and Social Teaching of the Catholic Church,
the defence of her unsullied orthodoxy, the combat against her enemies, both
within and without.
As a faithful
disciple of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Plínio Corrêa de Oliveira had
this in common with Sir Thomas More: both were great Catholic intellectuals and
writers. They were pious men, but above all laymen who indefatigably worked to
encourage everyone to follow the Divine Master's footsteps in the Church He
founded, not fearing to displease those who opposed the supreme rule of the
Magisterium.
Accordingly, like
Sir Thomas, Plínio Correa de Oliveira was at different times admired, applauded,
opposed, calumniated, and betrayed.
His intellectual
life has been portrayed in a best-seller, The ‘Crusader of the 20th Century',
authored by the renowned Italian University Professor Roberto de Mattei and
published in Rome in 1996.
Plínio Correa de
Oliveira wrote many books to defend the Catholic Faith, several of which were
highly praised by Bishops, Cardinals and Vatican officials.
He went to his
eternal reward in 1995. His saga lives on in the hearts and minds of lay
Catholics who were fortunate enough to benefit from his teaching, guidance and
paternal affection.
Saint Gabriel
Communications International is proud to derive its inspiration, encouragement
and enthusiasm to fight the good combat from the great Crusader of the 20th
Century.
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