(d.655) Martin was born to Italian nobility and became a priest of the Order of Saint Basil. He was the nuncio at Constantinople for Pope Theodore I at a time when Constantinople was far more prominent than Rome. He was elected the 74th pope and conducted the Lateran Council, which condemned the rising Monothelitism heresy that maintained that Jesus had only a divine will, rather than both a human will and a divine will working in harmony. This upset the Byzantine emperor who then had the pope arrested. Martin was spared execution, but died soon afterward from complications due to his imprisonment. He is considered a martyr for this reason, and was the last pope to be martyred.
How far would you go to stand up for what is right? Many of us think as Peter did, swearing that we would go to our death with Jesus, only to end up denying him when a moment of temptation arises. In recovery, the secret to strengthen our resolve is surrendering our will. Have you ever had to reject your “best thinking” and follow the suggestions of another in recovery instead?
“I fear not exile or death; I fear only failing the truth” (Pope Saint Martin I).
Reflection by Brad Farmer