In a richly detailed conversation from his book-and-talk-show appearance, Bishop Athanasius Schneider, auxiliary bishop of Astana in Kazakhstan, offered a compelling vision of martyrdom as more than a singular act of dying for the faith; it is a lifelong witness.
A Modern Example of Martyrdom?
During his appearance on John‑Henry Westen’s podcast, Bishop Schneider addressed whether conservative activist Charlie Kirk (who was not Catholic but reportedly moving toward the Church) could be considered a martyr. According to LifeSiteNews, Bishop Schneider answered yes. He argued:
“He was defending Christ and God’s commandment(s) on these three issues… the uniqueness of our Lord Jesus Christ, inviting especially young people to believe in Jesus Christ as the only Savior. And then to be defenders of life against the anti-culture of death, and then the sanctity of marriage and family.”
According to Schneider, it is precisely Kirk’s “bold” defense of Christ, life, and traditional marriage and family that places him in the category of martyr:
“Therefore, we have to acknowledge it, and I think God will reward him for his (courageous) commitment. And he was, of course, conscious that with this, his commitment, he was going against the current, and was also provoking enemies and hatred against him… Therefore, we can say he was killed, objectively … out of hatred against his (Christian) commitments…. In this sense, we can consider him a martyr.”
In so doing, Bishop Schneider expands the notion of martyrdom beyond what many Catholics may instinctively think, not simply death for the faith, but a life-long, public witness to Christ even in the face of hostility.
A Fuller Definition of Martyrdom
Bishop Schneider draws from classical and patristic reflections to deepen the concept of martyrdom. He told the host:
“It is not the suffering itself, but the cause of that suffering, that makes one a martyr.”
In other words: what qualifies someone as a martyr is not simply that one dies or suffers, but that such suffering is borne because of one’s fidelity to Christ and his commandments. For Schneider, the hallmark of the martyr is the interior identification with Christ, the willingness to suffer “out of hatred for the faith.”
In the YouTube video [“Prepare for MARTYRDOM – a WARNING from Bishop Schneider”], he emphasizes the need for the faithful to be aware that witnessing to the faith in our day may demand endurance, confrontation, even hostility.
The Blessed Virgin Mary: Queen of Martyrs
One of the most arresting claims in Bishop Schneider’s new book (and in the interview) is that the Blessed Virgin Mary, though she never died a violent death for the faith, is properly called a martyr.
He explains:
“Our Lady … was beneath the cross, and she was the creature on earth who the most closely participated interiorly with the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, with His intention, with His interior sacrifice.”
Quoting St. Bernard of Clairvaux, he continues:
“When the soldier pierced the heart of the Lord on the Cross, he first pierced the soul of Our Lady. … Before the soldier reached the body of Our Lord, his physical heart, he first trespassed and pierced the soul of Our Lady.”
Because Mary’s suffering flowed from her intimate union with Christ’s own self-sacrifice, Schneider argues the Church from its earliest days “venerated her as the closest participant of the redemption of Our Lord Jesus Christ… and then she was called later even the Queen of Martyrs.”
Thus, martyrdom is broadened in Schneider’s view: it is not solely about physical death, but the interior participation in Christ’s redemptive suffering. Mary, he contends, exemplifies that highest witness.
Why This Matters for Today’s Catholic
For Catholics living in a rapidly shifting cultural climate, Schneider’s reflections offer several take-aways:
- Witness begins in friendship with Christ. The martyr’s life is one of personal encounter with the Lord, then public witness.
- Hostility does not disqualify. In fact, Schneider suggests, hostility endured for the faith may signal true martyrdom — whether immediate or long-term.
- Witness affects all states of life. Whether famous activist or quiet parishioner, fidelity to Christ’s truth about life, marriage, and family marks a witness in need of courage.
- Union with Christ’s sufferings transforms suffering. Even if one does not die for the faith, suffering borne in fidelity and union with Christ’s sacrifice shares in martyrdom — as Mary’s example shows.
In an age when the word “martyr” can seem remote or reserved for distant centuries, Bishop Schneider helps the Church today reclaim the richness of that call. Martyrdom is not a trophy for the brave few—it is the path of every Christian who, out of love for Christ, stands fast in truth, faces hatred, and lets his or her life reflect the Cross.
Mary’s silent participation at Calvary invites each of us: to suffer when necessary, to witness always, and to love until the end.
Your support brings the truth to the world.
Catholic Online News exists because of donors like you. We are 100% funded by people who believe the world deserves real, uncensored news rooted in faith and truth — not corporate agendas. Your gift ensures millions can continue to access the news they can trust — stories that defend life, faith, family, and freedom.
When truth is silenced, your support speaks louder.
