Sunday, June 7, 2020

IN the NEWS - Praying to the Dead in Uganda

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies...
2 Peter 2:1

"An African prelate is imploring the intercession of the Ugandan Martyrs for an end to the COVID-19 pandemic, a century after their beatification. 
Archbishop Cypriaa Kizito Lwanga honored the young men at a June 3 Mass at Uganda Martyrs' Shrine in Namugongo. 

The priests wore red vestments symbolizing
--the blood of martyrs 
--and the fire of Pentecost.
--Some priests carried relics of the martyrs. 
The Uganda Martyrs refer to a group of 45 Roman Catholic and Anglican male martyrs — most were in their teens and 20s  — who were executed between 1885 and 1887 by a king of Buganda (now Uganda). They all died painful deaths — some being burned alive — for their belief in Christ and for refusing the sexual demands of their handlers.

The 22 Catholic martyrs were beatified by Pope Benedict XV in 1920 and canonized by Pope Paul VI on Oct. 18, 1964. 

The miracles that led to the canonization of the Uganda
Martyrs involve the healing of two nuns who had contracted the bubonic plague and for whom their medical doctors — one a Muslim and another a Protestant — had given up hope. 
Nonetheless, a novena in honor of the Blessed Martyrs was immediately started in St. Mary's Cathedral Rubaga for their cure. The martyrs' relics were also placed on the dying nuns. Three days later, to the doctors' amazement, both were completely cured."
ChurchMilitant