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Objection 1: It seems that faith alone is the cause of martyrdom.
For it is written (1 Pt. 4:15,16): "Let none of you
suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or a railer, or a coveter of other
men's things. But if as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but
let him glorify God in this name." Now a man is said to be a
Christian because he holds the faith of Christ. Therefore only faith
in Christ gives the glory of martyrdom to those who suffer.
Objection 2: Further, a martyr is a kind of witness. But witness
is borne to the truth alone. Now one is not called a martyr for
bearing witness to any truth, but only for witnessing to the Divine
truth, otherwise a man would be a martyr if he were to die for
confessing a truth of geometry or some other speculative science, which
seems ridiculous. Therefore faith alone is the cause of martyrdom.
Objection 3: Further, those virtuous deeds would seem to be of most
account which are directed to the common good, since "the good of the
nation is better than the good of the individual," according to the
Philosopher (Ethic. i, 2). If, then, some other good were the
cause of martyrdom, it would seem that before all those would be
martyrs who die for the defense of their country. Yet this is not
consistent with Church observance, for we do not celebrate the
martyrdom of those who die in a just war. Therefore faith alone is the
cause of martyrdom.
On the contrary, It is written (Mt. 5:10): "Blessed are
they that suffer persecution for justice' sake," which pertains to
martyrdom, according to a gloss, as well as Jerome's commentary on
this passage. Now not only faith but also the other virtues pertain to
justice. Therefore other virtues can be the cause of martyrdom.
I answer that, As stated above (Article 4), martyrs are so
called as being witnesses, because by suffering in body unto death they
bear witness to the truth; not indeed to any truth, but to the truth
which is in accordance with godliness, and was made known to us by
Christ: wherefore Christ's martyrs are His witnesses. Now this
truth is the truth of faith. Wherefore the cause of all martyrdom is
the truth of faith.
But the truth of faith includes not only inward belief, but also
outward profession, which is expressed not only by words, whereby one
confesses the faith, but also by deeds, whereby a person shows that he
has faith, according to James 2:18, "I will show thee, by
works, my faith." Hence it is written of certain people (Titus
1:16): "They profess that they know God but in their works they
deny Him." Thus all virtuous deeds, inasmuch as they are referred
to God, are professions of the faith whereby we come to know that God
requires these works of us, and rewards us for them: and in this way
they can be the cause of martyrdom. For this reason the Church
celebrates the martyrdom of Blessed John the Baptist, who suffered
death, not for refusing to deny the faith, but for reproving
adultery.
Reply to Objection 1: A Christian is one who is Christ's. Now
a person is said to be Christ's, not only through having faith in
Christ, but also because he is actuated to virtuous deeds by the
Spirit of Christ, according to Rm. 8:9, "If any man have not
the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His"; and again because in
imitation of Christ he is dead to sins, according to Gal. 5:24,
"They that are Christ's have crucified their flesh with the vices
and concupiscences." Hence to suffer as a Christian is not only to
suffer in confession of the faith, which is done by words, but also to
suffer for doing any good work, or for avoiding any sin, for
Christ's sake, because this all comes under the head of witnessing to
the faith.
Reply to Objection 2: The truth of other sciences has no connection
with the worship of the Godhead: hence it is not called truth
according to godliness, and consequently the confession thereof cannot
be said to be the direct cause of martyrdom. Yet, since every lie is
a sin, as stated above (Question 110, Articles 3,4),
avoidance of a lie, to whatever truth it may be contrary, may be the
cause of martyrdom inasmuch as a lie is a sin against the Divine Law.
Reply to Objection 3: The good of one's country is paramount among
human goods: yet the Divine good, which is the proper cause of
martyrdom, is of more account than human good. Nevertheless, since
human good may become Divine, for instance when it is referred to
God, it follows that any human good in so far as it is referred to
God, may be the cause of martyrdom.
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