Martyred and Persecuted for the Christian Faith

June 29, 2025

Introduction: On behalf of the Knights of Columbus, welcome to the Rosary for Persecuted Christians. Whenever a Fifth Sunday of the month occurs, we pray in solidarity with and for the religiously persecuted and martyred, for Christians in particular. It is sad that so many are persecuted for faith in Jesus, but we believe what Jesus says to us at the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:10 – “blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

At each decade of the rosary, we will pray for a specific petition for a recent event in the world. References to the news items used to generate these petitions are provided at the end. It is our hope that sharing these current events informs you, increases your awareness of worldwide religious persecution, and moves us to more intense prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

First mystery – The Resurrection of our Lord: “From January to May 2025, over 950 instances of persecution against Christians were reported throughout India. These incidents included attacks, threats to abandon the Christian faith, excommunication, social boycotts, halting prayer services and church closures.” Despite constitutional right to freedom of religion, persecution continues to rise due to the Hindu nationalist movement. Let us pray for the safety of Christians and other minorities in India, and for their right to freely and openly practice their faith.

Second mystery – The Ascension of our Lord into Heaven:  Attacks by Islamist militants continue in Nigeria. On Palm Sunday evening an attack on a village left over 50 dead. Late last month, more than 100 have been killed and around 5,000 displaced in a series of attacks by these groups. Many of the attacks in May are believed to be ‘revenge’ against a local bishop who testified to the US Congress in March about the ongoing violence in the region. Accountability is scarce as the Nigerian government fails to protect Christians’ fundamental right to life, liberty, and freedom. Let us pray for an end to violence and that government at all levels will diligently, impartially and transparently address the violence and its effects.

Third mystery – The Descent of the Holy Spirit: China never granted visas to foreigner missionaries; this work has always been covert. Foreign nationals who have visas for other reasons have, of course, shared the good news of Jesus. New regulations make religious activities much harder for foreign Christians in China. Religious activities now classified as illegal include: ‘interfering with or controlling Chinese religious groups’, establishing religious organizations, promoting ‘religious extremism’, inviting Chinese citizens to join a religion, producing or selling religious books, organizing religious education and training, accepting donations from Chinese organizations or citizens for religious purposes. Let us pray the safety, wisdom and discernment of foreign Christians in China and that God would soften the hearts of the governmental authorities to be open to the gospel.

 Fourth mystery – The Assumption of Mary: Nepal, formerly a Hindu kingdom, was declared a federal and secular state in 2008, abolishing 240 years of monarchy. Now, with increasing calls for a dominant Hindu kingdom Christians have seen the numbers of attacks on their communities increase in the southern plains of Nepal. Let us pray for unity and perseverance among Christians in Nepal, especially as demands for a Hindu nation and the return of the monarchy increase from extremist groups.

Fifth mystery – The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth:

A Catholic priest was shot to death in on April 3 in Seneca, Kansas. Fr. Carasala, a native of India, was a quiet and humble priest of the Archdiocese of Kansas City. A suspect has been apprehended, who confessed to the shooting. The police investigation has ruled out random violence but has yet to learn of the shooter’s motivation. Let us pray for this red martyr of the Church, and for his family as they mourn the loss of their son and brother.

References

1.    https://aleteia.org/2025/04/09/shooting-of-kansas-priest-was-not-random-says-prosecution/

2.    https://www.opendoorsuk.org/news/latest-news/nigeria-attacks-deadly/

https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2025/04/15/bishop-anagbe-in-dc-testimony-warns-of-islamic-agenda-to-homogenize-nigerians/

3.    https://www.opendoorsuk.org/news/latest-news/nepal-protests/

4.    https://www.opendoorsuk.org/news/latest-news/india-rallies/

5.    https://www.opendoorsuk.org/news/latest-news/china-foreign-christians-law/