HOW APOSTLES & FOLLOWERS DIED?

Matthew
Suffered martyrdom in Ethiopia, killed by a sword wound.

Mark
Died in Alexandria, Egypt, after being dragged by horses through the streets until he was dead.

Luke
Was hanged in Greece as a result of his tremendous preaching to the lost.

John
Faced martyrdom when he was boiled in huge basin of boiling oil during a wave of persecution in Rome. However, he was miraculously delivered from death. John was then sentenced to the mines on the prison island of Patmos. He wrote his prophetic Book of Revelation on Patmos. The apostle John was later freed and returned to serve as Bishop of Edessa in modern Turkey. He died as an old man, the only apostle to die peacefully.

Peter
Was crucified upside down on an x-shaped cross. According to church tradition it was because he told his tormentors that he felt unworthy to die in the same way that Jesus Christ had died.

James the Just
The leader of the church in Jerusalem, was thrown over a hundred feet down from the southeast pinnacle of the Temple when he refused to deny his faith in Christ. When they discovered that he survived the fall, his enemies beat James to death with a fuller's club. This was the same pinnacle where Satan had taken Jesus during the Temptation.

James the Greater
A son of Zebedee, was a fisherman by trade when Jesus called him to a lifetime of ministry. As a strong leader of the church, James was ultimately beheaded at Jerusalem. The Roman officer who guarded James watched amazed as James defended his faith at his trial. Later, the officer walked beside James to the place of execution. Overcome by conviction, he declared his new faith to the judge and knelt beside James to accept beheading as a Christian.

Bartholomew also known as Nathanael
Was a missionary to Asia. He witnessed for our Lord in present day Turkey. Bartholomew was martyred for his preaching in Armenia where he was flayed to death by a whip.

Andrew
Was crucified on an x-shaped cross in Patras, Greece. After being whipped severely by seven soldiers they tied his body to the cross with cords to prolong his agony. His followers reported that, when he was led toward the cross, Andrew saluted it in these words: "I have long desired and expected this happy hour. The cross has been consecrated by the body of Christ hanging on it." He continued to preach to his tormentors for two days until he expired.

Thomas
Was stabbed with a spear in India during one of his missionary trips to establish the church in the sub-continent.

Jude, The brother of Jesus
Was killed with arrows when he refused to deny his faith in Christ.

Matthias
The apostle chosen to replace the traitor Judas Iscariot, was stoned and then beheaded.

Barnabas
One of the group of seventy disciples, wrote the Epistle of Barnabas. He preached throughout Italy and Cyprus. Barnabas was stoned to death at Salonica.

Paul
Was tortured and then beheaded by the evil Emperor Nero at Rome in A.D. 67. Paul endured a lengthy imprisonment which allowed him to write his many epistles to the churches he had formed throughout the Roman Empire. These letters, which taught many of the foundational doctrines of Christianity, form a large portion of the New Testament.

Is the World coming to an end?

This is probably the most debated topic in the recent times. 1995, May 21 2011, 2012, 2016, what are these years? These are the timelines predicted by different preachers as the last day of the world. Every pastor in TV or radio is talking about the last days or they declare that they know the exact dates. Most of these dates has already passed and the next one will also pass without any impact to world. Everyone is trying to understand the thought of The Almighty God. God's plans and thoughts are zillion times brighter and wiser than our thoughts. It is like trying to empty the ocean with a sea shell.

This post is not about whether you have to believe in these dates or not. Do these dates really matter to our Christian life? Our life style and work should be irrespective of the end of the world. Assume that a person is dying in two days does the end of world in 2012 or 2016 matters to him? No.

So the bottom-line is “whether the world is ending in 2011 or 2012 or 2016, but our life in this world will end soon. We are going close to death every day and we need to prepare. If you are prepared then any day is a good day.” 

St. Bernadette

These are the pictures of St. Bernadette who died 122 years ago in Lourdes, France and was buried, her body was only discovered 30 years ago after the church officials decided to examine her body. 

Her body is still fresh until today and if you ever go to Lourdes, France you can see her body in the church in Lourdes. Her body does not decay because during her lifetime, the mother of Jesus would always appear to her and give messages and advice to all mankind on the right way to live on this earth. Many miracles have taken place in this place of Lourdes and still do until today. These pictures show her body after 122 years!

Short form of "Way of Cross"

First Friday of Lent 2012. If you can't go to church to attend 'Way of Cross', try to do this short version of Way of Cross. It will not take more than 15 minutes. Share with your friends and family.

Adoration: We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. Because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world.

1. The First Station: Jesus is condemned to death <Say the adoration here> 
O Jesus! So meek and uncomplaining, teach me resignation in trials. Have mercy, O Lord.

2. The Second Station: Jesus takes up his Cross  <Say the adoration here> 
My Jesus, this Cross should be mine, not Thine; my sins crucified Thee. Have mercy, O Lord.

3. The Third Station: Jesus falls the first time  <Say the adoration here> 
O Jesus! By this first fall, never let me fall into mortal sin. Have mercy, O Lord.

4. The Fourth Station: Jesus meets his Sorrowful Mother  <Say the adoration here> 
O Jesus! May no human tie, however dear, keep me from following the road of the Cross. Have mercy, O Lord.

5. The Fifth Station: The Cross is laid on Simon of Cyrene  <Say the adoration here> 
Simon unwillingly assisted Thee; may I with patience suffer all for Thee. Have mercy, O Lord.

6. The Sixth Station: A woman wipes the face of Jesus  <Say the adoration here> 
O Jesus! Thou didst imprint Thy sacred features upon Veronica's veil; stamp them also indelibly upon my heart. Have mercy, O Lord.

7. The Seventh Station: Jesus falls a second time <Say the adoration here>
By Thy second fall, preserve me, dear Lord, from relapse into sin. Have mercy, O Lord.

8. The Eighth Station: Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem. <Say the adoration here>
My greatest consolation would be to hear Thee say: "Many sins are forgiven thee, because thou hast loved much. Have mercy, O Lord.

9. The Ninth Station: Jesus falls a third time  <Say the adoration here> 
O Jesus! When weary upon life's on journey, be Thou my strength and my perseverance. Have mercy, O Lord.

10. The Tenth Station: Jesus is stripped of his garments.   <Say the adoration here> 
My soul has been robbed of its robe of innocence; clothe me, dear Jesus, with the garb of penance and contrition. Have mercy, O Lord.

11. The Eleventh Station: Jesus in nailed to the Cross  <Say the adoration here> 
Thou didst forgive Thy enemies; my God, teach me to forgive injuries and FORGET them. Have mercy, O Lord.

12. The Twelfth Station: Jesus dies on the Cross  <Say the adoration here> 
Thou art dying, my Jesus, but Thy Sacred Heart still throbs with love for Thy sinful children. Have mercy, O Lord.

13. The Thirteenth Station: Jesus is placed in the arms of his Mother  <Say the adoration here> 
Receive me into thy arms, O Sorrowful Mother; and obtain for me perfect contrition for my sins. Have mercy, O Lord.

14. The Fourteenth Station: Jesus is laid in the tomb  <Say the adoration here> 
When I receive Thee into my heart in Holy Communion, O Jesus, make it a fit abiding place for thy adorable Body. Have mercy, O Lord. Amen.