St. Eustace &, St. Andrew Taegon (20 September): Shedding Your Blood for Christ

About this sermon

St. Eustace and St. Andrew Kim Taegon lived nearly seventeen centuries apart, yet both demonstrated an unwavering Catholic faith that remained firm through suffering, persecution and martyrdom. St. Eustace was a distinguished Roman soldier traditionally associated with the reign of Emperor Trajan. While hunting, he experienced a miraculous vision of Christ’s Cross between the antlers of a stag. His conversion was followed by tremendous trials: the loss of his wealth, servants and family. After eventually being reunited with his wife and children, the entire family refused to sacrifice to the pagan gods and surrendered their lives for Christ. Once counted among the widely invoked Fourteen Holy Helpers, St. Eustace remains present in modern culture through the familiar image of the stag and cross—even where its Catholic origin has been forgotten. St. Andrew Kim Taegon, born in 1821, became the first native-born Korean Catholic priest. His father had already suffered martyrdom, but that sacrifice strengthened rather than weakened Andrew’s vocation. After returning to Korea to minister amid fierce persecution, he was arrested and executed before reaching the age of thirty. Facing death, St. Andrew proclaimed that his immortal life was about to begin and urged those present to become Christians. His final testimony reminds us that the martyrs did not regard religion as a private preference. They believed that Jesus Christ is worth every sacrifice—even life itself. This sermon also reflects upon the Ember Days and their enduring spiritual lessons: • Fasting teaches us that life is not ordered toward comfort • Penance prepares us to endure future trials • Mortification strengthens faith and detachment • Prayer obtains the grace of perseverance • Voluntary sacrifice helps make reparation for sin • Every season of life must be directed toward holiness Comfort and sanctity rarely travel together. God’s first concern is not the protection of our possessions, finances or social standing, but the salvation of our souls. The lives of these martyrs call us to prepare faithfully for whatever God permits without surrendering to fear. Do not be afraid—but do prepare. Please like, subscribe and share this sermon with someone who needs encouragement to remain firm in the Catholic faith. St. Eustace and Companions, pray for us. St. Andrew Kim Taegon and the Korean Martyrs, pray for us. 0:00 Two martyrs united by unwavering faith 0:24 Martyrdom as the ultimate sacrifice 0:49 St. Eustace: Roman soldier and convert 0:56 The miraculous stag and the Cross 1:25 The terrible trials of St. Eustace 1:42 His family’s reunion and martyrdom 1:58 St. Eustace and the Fourteen Holy Helpers 2:44 The stag and cross in modern culture 3:23 St. Andrew Kim Taegon of Korea 3:38 How Catholicism entered Korea 4:10 A martyr’s son becomes a priest 4:34 St. Andrew’s final words before execution 5:14 Two saints separated by centuries 5:38 Christians persecuted throughout the world 6:25 Ember Days, fasting and penance 6:48 Why comfort and sanctity rarely coexist 7:15 The seasons of life and spiritual preparation 7:32 Preparing to lose everything for the Faith 7:54 God cares for the soul first 8:18 Penance and the consequences of sin 8:34 Why the martyrs refused to apostatize 8:51 St. Andrew’s call to conversion 9:32 Take the Ember Days seriously 9:56 Do not be afraid—but prepare 10:04 Closing prayer and blessing Please say 3 Hail Marys for the priest. #SaintEustis #SaintAndrewKim #CatholicSaints #Martyrs #CatholicFaith #EmberDays #CatholicHistory #CatholicMartyrs #TraditionalCatholic #CatholicSpirituality 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ SUPPORT THE MISSION 🙏 Donate https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 📬 Free Catholic Newsletter https://sensusfidelium.com/newsletter/ 📰 Read on Substack https://sensusfidelium.substack.com/ ──────────────────── 📺 WATCH & READ 📺 Sensus Fidelium App https://sensusfidelium.tv/ 📚 Sensus Fidelium Press https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ 👕 Official Merchandise https://sensusfidelium.com/merchandise/ ──────────────────── 🤝 PARTNER WITH US 📣 Advertise on Sensus Fidelium https://sensusfidelium.com/advertise-with-sensus-fidelium/ 🎤 Invite Steve Cunningham to Speak https://sensusfidelium.com/speaking/ ⛪ Parish Formation & Consultation https://sensusfidelium.com/for-parishes/ ──────────────────── 🌎 CATHOLIC COMMUNITY ✝️ Trusted Catholic Businesses https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴

Topics

• Jesus Christ