“We had learned earlier, from St. John Paul II, that in our historical hour the true and perfect ecumenism was the ecumenism of the martyrs, allowing us to call, in our need, upon St. Edith Stein next to Dietrich Bonhoeffer as intercessors in heaven”. (CNA The "Nine-Eleven" of the Catholic Church)
Non-Members of the Catholic Church Cannot be Saved, Even if they Shed Their Blood for the Name of Christ
Believe strongly and without a doubt, that
any heretic or schismatic, baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
absolutely cannot be saved if he is not a member of the Catholic Church, however generous his alms may be, and even if he sheds his blood for the name of Christ. For all those who do not remain in unity with the Church
cannot attain salvation, despite being baptized, and despite their almsgiving, abundant though it may be,
and even despite their suffering death for the name of Christ, if they persists in the error, whether heretical or schismatic, which leads to death. (
Saint Fulgentius of Ruspe. Letter to Peter on the Faith, Ch.39, no. 80 – ML 65, 704)
The Blood Shed by a Schismatic does not Wash Away the Stain of Sin
Do they deem that they have Christ with them when they are collected together, who are gathered together outside the Church of Christ?
Even if such men were slain in confession of the Name, that stain is not even washed away by blood: the inexpiable and grave fault of discord is not even purged by suffering.
He cannot be a martyr who is not in the Church; he cannot attain unto the kingdom who forsakes that which shall reign there. Christ gave us peace; He bade us be in agreement, and of one mind. He charged the bonds of love and charity to be kept uncorrupted and inviolate;
he cannot show himself a martyr who has not maintained brotherly love. (Saint Cyprian of Carthage,
On the Unity of the Church, I, no. 13-14 –
ML 4, 510-511)
The Baptism of Blood is Useless to a Heretic
Can the power of baptism be greater or of more avail than confession, than suffering, when one confesses Christ before men and is baptized in his own blood? And yet even this baptism does not benefit a heretic, although he has confessed Christ, and been put to death outside the Church, unless the patrons and advocates of heretics declare that the heretics who are slain in a false confession of Christ are martyrs, and assign to them the glory and the crown of martyrdom contrary to the testimony of the apostle, who says that it will profit them nothing although they were burnt and slain. (1Cor 13:3) (Saint Cyprian of Carthage, Epistle LXXII to Jubaianus, no. 21)
An Assassinated Schismatic did not Possess the Necessary Association with Holy Mother Church to be Considered a Martyr
But, moreover,
although Novatian did endure some suffering, yet was he not also slain. And
although he was slain, yet was he not crowned. Why not? He was without the peace of the Church, without the bounds of concord, without the pale of that mother, of whom he ought to be a part who is a Martyr. Hear the Apostle, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor,
and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. But Cyprian suffered, in concord with all, in the common peace of all, amid a company of Confessors; and, having often been a Confessor in reiterated persecutions, and harassed with many a torment, had at last given him to drink of the cup of salvation. This was to be crowned! Wherefore let Novatian have his Epistles to himself, to himself his haughtiness, to himself his pride, by which, whilst he is lifted up on high, he is dashed down to pieces, whilst he spares no one, he is himself cast out. (Saint Pacian of Barcelona.
Epistola II ad Simpronianum, n.VII,7 –
ML 13, 1062-1063)
Even if a Heretic Dies for one Article of the True Faith, He may not be Considered a Martyr
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