Is James Foley a martyr? A brutal death sparks a faith-based debate

[hrmjustin]

David Gibson

(RNS) From the moment news broke that U.S. journalist James Foley had been beheaded by Islamic State extremists in the Middle East, many Christians, especially Foley’s fellow Catholics, began calling him a martyr, with some even saying he should be considered a saint.

Yet that characterization has left others uneasy, and the discussion is raising larger questions about what constitutes martyrdom.

Foley’s parents seemed to validate the martyrdom label when his father, John, spoke at an emotional news conference outside the family’s New Hampshire home and said he and his wife “believe he was a martyr.” Foley’s mother, Diane, added that her son “reminds us of Jesus. Jesus was goodness, love — and Jim was becoming more and more that.”

http://www.religionnews.com/2014/08/26/james-foley-martyr-brutal-death-sparks-faith-based-debate/

[rug]

1. I wouldn't say so. He was taken, then killed, for his nationality not his religion.

I'm glad he had his faith through it all.

[hrmjustin]

2. Yeah I am not sure either but only God really knows.

Feelso bad for him.

[rug]

3. I watched the video of Daniel Pearl. I couldn't watch this one.

[hrmjustin]

5. No I can't either.

[No Vested Interest]

21. I can't, and won't either. nt

[goldent]

28. I'm not sure why anyone would want to watch these - I once started to watch

something like this during the Iraq war, and stopped it soon after it started, and wondered what in the hell I was doing. Seeing something like that is bad for your psyche IMO

[hrmjustin]

29. I was hunted by Daniel Pearl's execution.

Horrible sight! Yes it is not good to watch that stuff.

[rug]

30. I couldn't believe what I was hearing so I checked it out.

I believe it.

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

22. I agree with you, rug

To qualify as a martyr, one must be killed in odium fidei -- hatred of the faith. I am thinking, however, of one example where that was rather blatantly violated.

In 1941, Fr. Maximilian Kolbe, O.F.M. Conv. was a prisoner at Auschwitz. Three prisoners had escaped, and the camp commandant said that ten prisoners were to be chosen at random, shut up in a hut, and starved to death pour encourager les autres. One of the selected prisoners, Franciszek Gajowniczek, objected that he had a wife and children. Kolbe volunteered to take his place. The SS officer present said essentially, "It makes no difference to me which prisoner goes into the hut." After three weeks, the survivors were injected with carbolic acid.

Now, while Kolbe's death was an ultimate act of self-sacrifice, it was not a martyrdom. Yet John Paul II had him canonized as a martyr, and waffled about him being "a martyr of charity". In short, JPII wanted Kolbe canonized, and broke the rules to get it done.

Incidentally, Gajowniczek was present at the canonization ceremony.

[rug]

23. That's an interesting point about Kolbe.

He did it because he was a priest but he wasn't killed because he was a priest.

[hrmjustin]

24. Thanks for the info.

[okasha]

4. An interesting question.

The Orthodox Church has a category of sainthood for thse who are killed while exercising their faith but not necessarily directly because of their faith. They carry the title "Holy Passion Bearer." I think James Foley might well fit into that group.

Father Bill McNichols is a wonderful artist who paints icons, some of not-yet-recognized saints, including Dorothy Day. One shows Holy Passion Bearer Fr. Mychal Judge against the background of the 911 attacks, embraced by St. Francis. It's deeply moving.

[hrmjustin]

6. Now this is an interesting conceot that I have never heard of.

[okasha]

8. I hadn't heard of it, either,

until I stumbled across the icon of Fr. Mychal online, with Fr. McNichols' explanation of the title. Google Andrei Rubelev Studios to see it, as well as the artist's other work.

[hrmjustin]

9. I knew a priest named Fr. John Walsted who wrote icons and I have one he wrote for me.

[okasha]

15. That's lovely.

May I ask the subject?

It's always fascinated me that icons are said to be written, rather than painted.

[hrmjustin]

18. Mine is of Jesus but he has written several for my parish as well.

He wrote one of the presentation, one of Mary and christ child, and one of the last supper.

I think they consider it a part of Scripture in a way. I have to look it up.

[rug]

7. Thanks, I hadn't heard of this.

What alphabet is the calligraphy?

[okasha]

10. Thanks for posting the image, rug.

The calligraphy is archaic but not ancient Greek. The counterpart, roughly, of Gothic script.

[rug]

11. I recognized some letters but I was scratching my head.

His work is excellent.

[hrmjustin]

14. Old church Slovanic maybe?

[rug]

16. I trust okasha on this. Way outside my ken.

I always hated Beowulf. Transitional languages are so indecisive.

[hrmjustin]

20. Lol. Old Chur h slovonic I ghink is just spoken in churches now.

[hrmjustin]

13. Could it be old church slovanic?

[okasha]

17. The Cyrillic alphabet is derived from it.

[hrmjustin]

19. I have a friend that can speak and sing in old church slovonic.

It just clicked in my head.

[hrmjustin]

12. Very sad but comforting in a way.

I still remember that day.

[hrmjustin]

25. kick.

[cbayer]

26. No, but his message is very powerful.

There is something about him that seems to appeal to many people. I can barely look at pictures of him for some reason. The idea of watching the video actively repulses me.

[hrmjustin]

27. I can't watch it either.