June 3: The Martyrs of Uganda, 1886

The Collect of the Day

the Martyrs of Uganda

O God, by whose providence the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church: Grant that we who remember before you the blessed martyrs of Uganda, may, like them, be steadfast in our faith in Jesus Christ, to whom they gave obedience even to death, and by their sacrifice brought forth a plentiful harvest; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

the Martyrs of Uganda

O God, by whose providence the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church: Grant that we who remember before thee the blessed martyrs of Uganda, may, like them, be steadfast in our faith in Jesus Christ, to whom they gave obedience unto death, and by their sacrifice brought forth a plentiful harvest; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Hebrews 10:32–39
Psalm 138
Matthew 24:9–14

On June 3rd, 1886, thirty-two young men, pages of the court of King Mwanga of Buganda, were burned to death at Namugongo for their refusal to renounce Christianity. In the following months many other Christians throughout the country died by fire or spear for their faith.

These martyrdoms greatly changed the dynamic of Christian growth in Uganda. Introduced by a handful of Anglican and Roman Catholic missionaries after 1877, the Christian faith had been preached only to the immediate members of the court, by order of King Mutesa. His successor, Mwanga, became increasingly angry as he realized that the first converts put loyalty to Christ above the traditional loyalty to the king.

The martyrdoms began in 1885. Mwanga first forbade anyone to go near a Christian mission on pain of death, but when he found himself unable to cool the ardor of the converts, he resolved to wipe out Christianity.

The Namugongo martyrdoms produced a result entirely opposite to Mwanga’s intentions. The example of these martyrs, who walked to their death singing hymns and praying for their enemies, so inspired many of the bystanders that they began to seek instruction from the remaining Christians. Within a few years the original handfulof converts had multiplied many times and had spread far beyond the court. The martyrs had left the indelible impression that Christianity was truly African, not simply a white man’s religion. Most of the missionary work was carried out by Africans rather than by white missionaries, and Christianity spread steadily.

Renewed persecution of Christians by a Muslim military dictatorship in the 1970s proved the vitality of the example of the Namugongo martyrs. Among the thousands of new martyrs, both Anglican and Roman Catholic, was Janani Luwum, Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Uganda, whose courageous ministry and death inspired not only members of his own country, but also Christians throughout the world.

Lessons and Psalm

First Lesson

Psalm

¹I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with my whole heart; *before the gods I will sing your praise.

²I will bow down toward your holy temple and praise your Name, *because of your love and faithfulness;

³For you have glorified your Name *and your word above all things.

⁴When I called, you answered me; *you increased my strength within me.

⁵All the kings of the earth will praise you, O Lord, *when they have heard the words of your mouth.

⁶They will sing of the ways of the Lord, *that great is the glory of the Lord.

⁷Though the Lord be high, he cares for the lowly; *he perceives the haughty from afar.

⁸Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you keep me safe; *you stretch forth your hand against the fury of my enemies; your right hand shall save me.

⁹The Lord will make good his purpose for me; *O Lord, your love endures for ever; do not abandon the works of your hands.

Gospel

³²But recall those earlier days when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, ³³sometimes being publicly exposed to abuse and persecution, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. ³⁴For you had compassion for those who were in prison, and you cheerfully accepted the plundering of your possessions, knowing that you yourselves possessed something better and more lasting. ³⁵Do not, therefore, abandon that confidence of yours; it brings a great reward. ³⁶For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. ³⁷For yet “in a very little while, the one who is coming will come and will not delay; ³⁸but my righteous one will live by faith. My soul takes no pleasure in anyone who shrinks back.” ³⁹But we are not among those who shrink back and so are lost, but among those who have faith and so are saved.