Saints
Saints
The Parish Church of the Fourteen Holy Helpers was solemnly dedicated to the service of Almighty God and his people on January 6, 1865 by the First Bishop of Buffalo, the Rt. Rev. John Timon. The Parish Church was dedicated under the title The Fourteen Holy Helpers, after the celebrated shrine church at Frankenthal, Germany. Bishop Timon was assisted at the Mass of Dedication by Rev. D. Martin Winands, the first pastor of Fourteen Holy Helpers.
An Explanation of the Martyrs
During the early years of the Christian Church, many people did not believe in Jesus. Some of these people were in positions of over over the lives of others. Because these people, such as the Emperor Diocletian, did not believe in Jesus, they wanted all Christians to say that Jesus was not really the Son of God. The early martyrs refused to say they did not believe in Jesus, and so these were put to death. These Christians were martyrs by giving their lives for the love of Christ.
The word Martyr comes from the Greek language. It means, “witness”. A person may be a martyr (witness) to faith by living according to the word of God, to show how people can believe in Jesus and live happily. People can be a martyr (witness) by telling others about Jesus and His ministry of love and service. We can be martyrs (witnesses) by being of service to others with kindness, sharing, and love. And, we can be martyrs by our gratitude for the goodness and mercy of Jesus in our lives.
