Not everyone will be honored by the shedding of their blood and will be able to die for their faith, as stated by the Second Vatican Council. However, God demands a spirit of martyrdom from all believers. This means that we all must be willing to lay down our lives for our faith, even though the Lord may not grant us the privilege of a martyr's death. We must be prepared enough that when our hour comes, we can say: "Lord, I was ready to lay down my life for you. And that has happened."
To give life does not only mean to die by a murderous hand. To give life and have a spirit of martyrdom means to commit oneself in duties, in silence, in prayer, in honestly fulfilling one's role, in that daily quietness. To give life gradually, like a mother who fearlessly and simply brings her child into the world through maternal martyrdom, nurses them, raises them, and cares for them with love. That means to lay down one’s life…
(Óscar Romero /1917–1980/, Archbishop of San Salvador,
who met a martyr's death during the celebration of Mass; speech from May 15, 1977)
