Saint Charles Lwanga & Companions:

Feast day : 03 June

Today the Church celebrates the feast of Saint Charles Lwanga and his companions popularly known as the 22 martyrs of Uganda. They were martyred for their faith on June 3 1886. All the martyrs were young Catholics below the age of 25, who chose to die rather than give up their faith. The youngest of them was just 13 years of age. When asked how long they would continue in their faith, they boldly said ‘Till death!’ and on hearing this, the king ordered them to be burnt alive. Their courage and conviction of their faith has inspired many to remain steadfast in their faith.

Background:

Christianity was brought into Uganda in the year 1879 by the Society of Missionaries of Africa or ‘White Fathers’ as they were called, a congregation of priests founded by Cardinal Lavigerie. King Mutesa welcomed the missionaries and permitted them to carry out their missions. Soon several people received instruction in faith and were converted to Christianity. However, after his death, his son King Mwanga II succeeded him. He was a superstitious pagan corrupt man who was known for his paedophilic vices. He was surprised to see how young pages religiously followed the teachings of the Church. His chief assistant Katikiro convinced him that Christians were a threat to his rule. On his orders, the visiting Anglican Bishop James Hannington and his caravan were murdered. Enraged by the murders, Joseph Musaka Balikudembe, the head of the male pages and a Catholic who often protected the young boys from the advances of Mwanga reproached the king and denounced his actions. He was beheaded for this on November 15 1885. Charles Lwanga, a young page who served in the royal court of the king replaced him and became the head of the male pages. He protected the young pages from the sexual advances of the king and had the boys under his charge baptised into the Catholic faith.

Martyrdom:

In May 1886, King Mwanga found out from one of the boys who refused to submit to his sexual advances that the boys had been secretly receiving Catholic instruction from St. Denis Ssebuggawa. He called for him and murdered him by thrusting a spear in his throat. The next morning, King Mwanga assembled all the male pages and separated all the ones who had converted to Christianity. In his attempt to make them give up their faith he asked them how long they would remain Christians and they replied in one voice, ‘Till death!’. He immediately ordered for all of them to be burned to death.

The boys were led to their place of execution which was 37 miles away. Three of them were killed enroute. Most of the pages were under the age of twenty-five. The youngest was thirteen years old. In prison Charles inspired the others to be courageous and faithful. On June 3 1886, Charles Lwanga was separated from the group and again given a chance to renounce his faith. He refused and in return was offered a slow death by burning on the stake! His feet were burned slowly and as the soldiers watched he told them ‘You are burning me, but it is as if you are pouring water over my body’. Soon his whole body was burnt to ashes and those who witnessed the event said that as the flame reached for his heart he cried “Katonda!” meaning “My God!” Those were his last words. The remaining boys were later burned together and achieved their glorious martyrdom, singing hymns and praising God till their last breath.

Canonization:

Charles Lwanga and his companions were canonized on 18 October 1964 by Pope Paul VI during the Vatican II conference. Saint Charles is the Patron of the African Youth of Catholic Action. The Basilica of the Uganda Martyrs was built on the site of the executions. A religious congregation of Ugandan men called the Brothers of St. Charles Lwanga senior was founded in 1927 and they are engaged in providing education to the disadvantages youth of their country.