“The tyrant dies and his rule is over, the martyr dies and his rule begins” (Soren Kierkegaard). Religion has been known to bring comfort to many; it may provide answers, stability, or even a sense of wellness. In Christian faith, specifically Catholicism, martyrs are people who die fighting for their beliefs and their dedication to God. In a way, devoting death to God is a martyr’s final physical act of faith. To die for one’s beliefs is the ultimate honor because it mirrors the actions of Jesus Christ. However, a martyr’s influence continues beyond their death. Their deaths helped spread Christianity and made it a more accepted religion. In this passage from Confessions, St. Augustine shows the contemporary impact martyrs have on people from his time period, giving today’s readers a look into what it means to be completely dedicated to one’s faith at that time. 

During one part of St. Augustine’s book, Confessions, Augustine and his son Adeodatus go to Milan to get baptized. During this time, Ambrose, the current bishop of Milan, is searching for the relics of two martyrs, Protasius and Gervasius. Despite being hidden away for many years, Ambrose finds their bodies and transfers them “with due honour to Ambrose’s basilica” (165). After the bodies move to the basilica, people begin to claim miracles are happening, like a blind man’s sight coming back to him. As miracles begin to occur, people’s faith in God and their connection with Him seems to strengthen. The two martyrs, Gervasius and Protasius, have an intense impact on the Church community. Their influence leads to fast spreading news of religion, radiant praising of God, and changes like “that hostile woman, though not converted to sound faith, was nevertheless checked in its anger” (165-166). The bodies of the martyrs are seen as one more link to God. The miracles also help in growing the Church; curious people are interested in learning more faith. The relics help in creating a more curious and open atmosphere; people from different regions want to witness miracles and they ultimately learn more about Christianity and the Church. This helps in creating a more positive outlook on Christianity despite the persecution they face in that time period. 

To be a martyr is to die for one’s faith and strong beliefs. Augustine mentions that despite Justina persecuting Ambrose, the devout congregation “kept continual guard in the Church, ready to die with their bishop, your servant” (165). To sacrifice one’s life for their community is seen as the ultimate act of selflessness for God and their congregation. St. Perpetua gets arrested along with four other Christians during a time of intense persecution. Her work, “The Passion of Saints Perpetua and Felicitas,” highlights the emotions and thoughts of martyrs before their deaths. Perpetua writes about how she is not afraid of dying for her faith. She would rather die for her faith than lie about being Christian in order to live. Perpetua’s experience and the other accounts written in her work mirror the actions of Jesus Christ, the son of God. Jesus gets crucified because of his undying passion and dedication to Christianity. To be a martyr is to mirror Jesus Christ, the son of God who died for every person’s sins. As Perpetua and her fellow martyrs stand in front of the yelling crowd before their deaths, they “rejoiced at this that they had obtained a share in the Lord’s suffering” (56). They are extremely proud to die for their religion. Perpetua even helps her killer put the sword to her throat as her final show of faith. She is not afraid and is ready to be happier with God “than I was in flesh” (54). 

Martyrs have gotten killed in gruesome and violent ways due to persecution. However, people of the Christian faith respect and honor them for hundreds of years. Martyrs like Gervasius, Protasius, and Perpetua die while representing their faith. To them, dying like Jesus is the ultimate show of faith and dedication to their religion. Martyrs also help to spread the word of Christianity. They provide another connection to God and help people build their faith. In St. Augustine’s time, this helps show how powerful religion and faith is. Martyrs willingly give up their lives for God; their physical life is their ultimate sacrifice and final act of faith that strengthens their commitment to God. Martyrs are a symbol of unwavering commitment to Christianity. They are physical messages of Jesus Christ’s and God’s teachings. A martyr’s impact continues long after their death, as shown by St. Augustine and the impact the relics of Gervasius and Protasius have on an entire community.