By Kelly Wahlquist

“For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.” ~ 2 Timothy 1:7

A friend once asked whether I ever get nervous when I have to speak in front of people. I responded, “The first time I had to stand before an audience, I was so afraid that I prayed to Moses.”

“Moses!” she exclaimed. “Why would you pray to Moses and not St. John Chryosotom, known as the Golden Mouth for his eloquent ability to speak, or St. John Paul II, a prolific teacher?”

She laughed when I told her that they were probably busy interceding for every speaker out there, so I figured Moses would jump at the chance to pray for me.

Calling on the Saints

In the Catholic Church, we have patron saints—saints whose intercession is known for specific areas of life. And these saints must be busy! No doubt, St. Francis of Assisi is bombarded by the prayers of animal lovers everywhere. St. Gianna Beretta Molla must have her hands full praying for all those longing to be parents, and St. Anthony of Padua surely can’t have a moment’s peace as he answers the fervent prayers of anyone who has ever lost anything.

I imagine the patron saints find joy in interceding for specific needs, and I reach out to them often. But that image of saints who aren’t called upon as often captured my interest, and for the past few years, I have called upon this unique group of saints. I call them the “And Companions.” They are the companions of saints whose names we may not know—and there are thousands of them!

St. Charles Lwanga and Companions

In 1886, St. Charles Lwanga and his companions bravely gave their lives for the faith in present-day Uganda. Rooted firmly in their Christian beliefs and moral convictions, they courageously evangelized, baptized, and lovingly guided many young converts to Christ. For their unwavering witness to the Gospel, St. Charles Lwanga and twenty-one companions were sentenced to death.

On June 3, 1886, Charles was slowly and painfully burned alive at Namugongo. King Mwanga II ensured that the killings were specifically horrific and displayed publicly to induce fear and stop the spread of Christianity. What King Mwanga II failed to realize is that, as Tertullian said, “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.” The willingness of St. Charles Lwanga and Companions to die for their beliefs strengthened and expanded the Christian community in Uganda.

Charles’ leadership role and the courage and integrity of the “And Companions” continue to inspire Christians around the world to remain faithful, even in the face of persecution. Today, over 500,000 will gather in Namugongo to remember the purity and steadfast faith of these martyrs.

Walking in Courage

Fr. Cornelius Warren, a man who lived under eight Popes and twenty U.S. Presidents, once said, “Courage does not consist in the absence of fear but in the conquest of it.”  May we, like so many saints, “And Companions,” lean deeply into our faith and, in doing so, conquer our fears with courage, conviction, and trust in Christ.

Prayer:

“And Companions,” help me to live my life with unquestioning faith, deep courage, and abiding love in Christ. Fill my heart with joy in spreading the Gospel and grant me the grace to be a faithful witness to the truth in all I say and do.

Call to Action:

Today, give God thanks for every companion He places on your path and look for opportunities to be a companion for another on this journey from blessing to blessing.

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