St. Charles Lwanga, born in 1860 in the southern region of modern-day Uganda, served in the court of King Mwanga II. The King had begun executing Christian missionaries and any of his citizens who converted. Among those executed were Charles Lwanga and many of his companions. Burnt alive, he died on June 3rd, 1886, and was declared a saint by Pope Paul VI in 1964.
"The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church," wrote Tertullian, a 2nd Century writer and disciple. The heroic men and women, up and down the ages, inspire us to be bold witnesses of Jesus Christ in our world today!
In honor of St. Charles Lwanga and his fellow martyrs, consider watching this clip from Bishop Barron:
"Please repent and become a Christian like me!"