7/12 memorial: The Martyrs of Orange

"The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church." -Tertullion

This year in France, over 17,800 catechumens were baptized at Easter Vigil: 10,384 adults and 7,400 of the age of 11–17-year-olds. What explains these numbers? And why the sudden interest in Catholicism? Who were the Martyrs of Orange and how did they give their lives? How are the 2 connected?

The French Revolution. In the late 1780's, the French middle-class population tripled. A crisis mounted when bad harvests, high food costs and unemployment befuddled the indecisive King Louis XVI. France was in debt and tax assessments were inconsistent across regions. Reform attempts were either blocked by Parliament or unsupported by the hesitant King. Meanwhile, philosophers Voltaire and Rosseau fueled the masses on how, "a handful of people should gorge themselves with superfluities, while the hungry multitude goes in want of necessities." Riots and mutinies resulted. On July 12, rumors spread that the King ordered the Swiss Guard to stop the insurrections. On July 14, the Bastille armory was stormed, and 83 peasants were killed. In return, the Bastille governor faced decapitation; his head was marched around on a pike. This breakdown of law-and-order further empowered citizens to attack aristocrats.

Ravage of the Bride of Christ. The Catholic church owned 10% of French lands. Approximately 100,000 priests were collecting 10% of earnings in tithes. Certain peasants felt they received little in return. Effective July 12, 1790, the monarchy ended when France's first ever constitution was written. However, it also ended the Catholic church when it named clergy as employees of the state. It developed a system for electing priests and bishops and set their rates of pay. In short, papal authority over France was finished. Pope Pius VI, the clergy and French Catholics protested. Thirty bishops wrote a declaration denouncing the constitution. As a result, clergy were required to swear an oath of loyalty to the constitution. The majority of clergy, ~75%, were forced into exile, deported, or executed. Meanwhile, all church sacred vessels, art, relics, holdings and lands were confiscated. Religious orders were dissolved. Another 40,000 faithful were banished or tortured, effacing most traces of Christianity. Later, radicals used every means to “laicize” religious education and in 1904, all teaching Orders were suppressed. In 1905 more anti-Catholic laws were passed. However, a remnant of traditional Catholics in Normandy, Brittany and the Vendée resisted; keeping the faith alive, until now...

Madame Guillotine. While we will never know the stories of all who perished, we can honor these few nuns today. Between July 6-26 in 1794, this group of 32 nuns were decapitated in Orange, for refusing to take the "Liberté Égalité" constitutional oath. These were only a sampling of sisters rounded up from various Orders in France during church ravages. Unfortunately, there were other jails and other guillotines...

16 Ursulines came from Bollène, near Avignon
13 Sacramentines or adorers of the Blessed Sacrament
2 Cistercian sisters from Avignon
1 Benedictine nun

At first, they were arrested and imprisoned, but a social miracle occurred. These and others prisoners created an informal religious community and elected a Mother Superior. They prayed the hours and performed pious exercises. They were to be tried and executed for the crime of superstition and fanaticism. On July 6, the first sister was taken and never returned. She was sentenced to death by guillotine. Each day another nun would be taken. Some days, 2 would go. No one knew who would be next. The remaining sisters prayed for those facing death that day. Perhaps in their devotions, they meditated Song of Solomon's 8:6-7, "love is stronger than death." En route to the scaffold, they all agreed to sing the Latin hymn of praise--Te Deum--knowing soon, they would have dinner with the angels. These nuns trusted their Spouse and comforted each other while leaving their earthly lives behind. When the French Revolution ended, the judges of Orange were tried, found guilty and sentenced. In 1925, all 32 martyrs were beatified by Pope Pius XI. Their feast day is July 12.

Every Yes Matters. Sometimes, we forget the fragilities of life and take freedoms for granted, especially with our religion. These martyrs' legacy is twofold: heaven is forever and the easiest path is thru God and neighbor. In France today, thousands of hearts have opened to this message. Conversions are a miracle of God's grace but also fruits of these French martyrs' blood. People don't choose death without a cause. These statistics show we are on the right path. In Romans 8:28, St Paul promises God will work all things for the good for those who love Him. When kneeling in their sisters' pooled blood facing the guillotine--as Christ's offered His blood--so too, did these souls give theirs. We may not be called to martyrdom, in body. But we are called, with our souls. Jesus asks us to die to self. In adversity, let us love God and neighbor, by better supporting our co-suffering family, marriage partners, co-workers and faith communities.

Prayer:

Grant a joyful outcome to our prayers,

O Lord, so that we, who each year devoutly honor the day of the passion of the holy Martyrs of Orange,

may also imitate the constancy of their faith.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

Martyrs of Orange, pray for us.

Mother Mary, pray for us.

Jesus, we trust in you!

Sources:

2025 Record Baptisms in France | Catholicnewsagency.com