Venerable Voices: St. Charles Lwanga & Companions

Saint Charles Lwanga, together with his twenty-one companions, stands as a towering figure of faith and courage in the face of persecution. These martyrs of Uganda were a group of Christians who were executed between 1885 and 1887, under the reign of King Mwanga II of the Buganda Kingdom, which is part of modern-day Uganda. Their martyrdom is a profound testament to their unyielding faith in Christ amid severe persecution.

King Mwanga II, angered by the Christians’ allegiance to Jesus Christ—which he saw as a threat to his royal authority and the traditional Ugandan religious practices—ordered the execution of the young men and boys who served as pages in his court. Among these was Charles Lwanga, who was a leader among the Christian community, having been catechized and baptized by earlier missionaries. Lwanga took it upon himself to protect and educate his fellow pages in the Christian faith, even secretly baptizing those who had not yet received the sacrament.

On June 3, 1886, after enduring horrible tortures, Charles Lwanga was martyred by being burned at the stake, with his companions suffering similar fates around the same period. Their martyrdom had a profound impact on the Christian community in Uganda, leading to a significant growth in the faith in the years that followed. Pope Paul VI canonized Charles Lwanga and his companions on October 18, 1964, and they are collectively celebrated on June 3rd, the date of their leader's martyrdom.

Their story is a powerful reminder of the cost of discipleship and the profound witness to the Gospel that comes from offering one's life for the sake of Christ. The martyrs of Uganda exemplify the strength of faith that refuses to deny Christ, even in the face of death.

A Mural of Martyrdom

In our chapel, the mural depicting St. Charles Lwanga alongside other martyrs, including Blessed Stanley Rother, serves as a visual catechism on the call to witness to the faith even unto death. Blessed Stanley Rother, an American priest martyred in Guatemala in 1981, shares this honor of ultimate sacrifice for the Gospel with St. Charles Lwanga and his companions. This mural not only honors their memory but also serves as a daily reminder of the universal call to holiness and the cost of following Jesus. Each person represented, by their unique witness, teaches us that martyrdom is the highest testament of faith in Christ—an act of love so profound that one is willing to lay down one’s life for it. Just as Blessed Stanley responded to his calling with fidelity and courage, so too did Charles Lwanga and his companions in Uganda. Their inclusion in our chapel mural highlights the communion of saints and martyrs, inspiring us to live out our faith with boldness and conviction.