Theme
Witnesses on courage
Courage is not the absence of fear: these witnesses proved it, often with their lives.
A few words
There is no harder work than praying to God. Every time a man wants to pray, his enemies try to stop him. Prayer is a fight to the last breath.
Let us stand fast in battle in the day of the Lord because the days of tribulation and hardship have come upon us.
My God, I am going to help You not to be extinguished within me.
Seek the truth, listen to the truth, learn the truth, love the truth, speak the truth, hold to the truth, defend the truth to the death.
I have lived for Christ; I want to die for Christ.
There I heard the words of the Saviour.
All 227 witnesses on courage
- Abba Agathon Prayer understood as a fight, to the last breath.
- Abraham Joshua Heschel Wonder as the root of prayer, and prayer that walks out into the street.
- Absalom Jones The thanksgiving of a people who remember their deliverance, and pray for those still waiting for theirs.
- Abuna Petros Blessing still when all is lost, and not taking back one's word.
- Adolph Kolping Putting one's heart up as a pledge in order to win someone over.
- Agathe de Catane The quiet refusal of whatever enslaves; freedom kept even in another's hands.
- Agnès de Rome The freedom of a given heart, untouched by threat or shame.
- Agnès Phila Writing one's refusal calmly, without raising the voice, and signing it.
- Agnès Tsao Kou Ying The fidelity of an ordinary woman who stays standing when everything is designed to make her bend.
- Albert Luthuli Stubborn patience before a door that will not open.
- Alexandre Men Faith that stays young, even when everything around insists it is dead.
- Alfred Delp Adoration that stays standing when everything else is taken away.
- Alfred le Grand Giving people back the words they need; wisdom sought by a man of action.
- Amanda Berry Smith The inner freedom of someone who no longer waits for permission; joy that passes through contempt.
- Ambroise de Milan Authority turned into service, a faith that is sung before it is argued.
- Amma Théodora Humility preferred to feats of endurance; the winter of trials received as a season that does its work.
- Anacleto González Flores Forgiving the man who has just signed your death.
- André Dũng-Lạc Ceasing to flee in order to stay faithful, holding the faith to the end.
- André Kim Taegon Faithfulness that holds when believing costs your life, and leaves hope behind as an inheritance.
- Ann Hasseltine Judson A body worn out by what one carries for another, and the giving of oneself renewed each day.
- Anna Julia Cooper Dignity held like a prayer, for a long time, with no one to acknowledge it.
- Anna Wang The simple, unshakable faith of a young person who already knows to whom she belongs.
- Annalena Tonelli Following Christ in the poor, without title or safety net, when prayer becomes a life entirely given away.
- Anne Askew A body given over and silence kept about others; a word held to when it costs everything.
- Anne Brontë Ordinary courage, asked for quietly and with no one watching.
- Anne Hutchinson Inward freedom before those who sit in judgement, and the word one does not take back.
- Anthousa d'Antioche The voice of a mother who dares to say what she carries, without demanding anything.
- Antonio de Montesinos Anger at injustice, carried into prayer instead of being swallowed.
- Apolo Kivebulaya Walking on with your fear, because a voice has said: I am with you.
- Argula von Grumbach Speaking up without a mandate, because one has read and can no longer keep silent.
- Armida Barelli The apostolic boldness of lay people, trusting God where everything seems impossible.
- Athanase d'Alexandrie Holding the faith whole when it would be so easy to shave it down.
- Augustus Tolton Quiet faithfulness under contempt, and the God-given dignity that no rejection can take away.
- Bartolomé de Las Casas Taking the side of the oppressed, letting the truth disturb.
- Benedict Daswa The quiet courage of refusing fear and falsehood, to the very end.
- Bernard Mizeki Remaining with those one serves, standing firm in faithfulness.
- Blandine de Lyon Strength given to the weakest, when prayer holds upright what everything should bring down.
- Boniface de Mayence Asking others to pray for you, and not keeping silent when one should speak.
- Caroline Chisholm Hospitality organised; a charity that gives itself the practical means to keep its word.
- Cassienne de Constantinople To speak the truth without flattery, and to sing the mercy offered to those who turn back.
- Catherine Booth Faith that goes down into the street and refuses to settle with what it finds there.
- Catherine de Bologne The spiritual struggle waged in distrust of self and trust in God.
- Catherine de Sienne The audacity of speaking truth (to the powerful and to God) because love demands it.
- Cecil Frances Alexander Saying the highest things in words a child can carry.
- Ceferino Namuncurá Preparing oneself to serve one's people, keeping them at the heart of one's prayer.
- Charles Lwanga Young, undivided faith, protecting the weakest and passing through fear in prayer.
- Charles Spurgeon Prayer as a rope pulled from below that makes heaven ring, and joy held even in trial.
- Chiune Sugihara Obedience to God set above obedience to orders, paid for with a career.
- Christian de Chergé Preventive forgiveness and brotherhood beyond religion.
- Christine de Pizan Holding up a whole household with the only work one knows how to do.
- Christophe Munzihirwa Staying with those who stay, when leaving would be reasonable (peace paid for in person).
- Claire d'Assise The gaze held on Christ until one becomes what one beholds.
- Claire de Montefalco Not praying from a distance about what one has been through.
- Columba Kang Wan-suk Organizational courage under mortal threat, refusal to betray others even under torture, leadership exercised fully as a laywoman when no other structure existed.
- Corrie ten Boom Forgiveness received before it is given: when loving is beyond our strength, God gives the love along with the command.
- Crispine de Thagore Calmly repeating the same thing in front of those who have power over everything.
- Cyprien de Carthage Common prayer that holds the Church together when all falls apart.
- Cyprien Rugamba Joy given back to God: art, dance and a whole life turned into praise.
- Damien de Molokai Staying when everyone else leaves, presence become prayer among wounded bodies.
- Daniel Comboni The gift of one's life for a people, to the point of stepping aside for it.
- Desmond Tutu Justice sought without hatred, and forgiveness held as the only future for wounded peoples.
- Devasahayam Pillai Joyful constancy under trial, when faith is costly and the dignity of all is worth more than one's own rank.
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer Grace is costly. A faith that cannot be separated from commitment.
- Dorothy Stang Staying on the side of the most exposed when staying costs.
- Edel Quinn Service given to the last of one's strength, without losing joy.
- Edith Cavell To care for all without picking sides, and to go without bitterness.
- Édith Stein The search for truth that leads to God, and solidarity held with one's people to the end.
- Élisabeth de Schönau Speaking when you would rather have kept silent.
- Elisabeth Dirks Not paying for one's own safety with other people's lives.
- Élisabeth Feodorovna Prayer that forgives: to descend toward the poor and to bless even in the night.
- Elizabeth Fry Dignity restored to the forgotten, and the conviction that no one is beyond recovery.
- Emily Brontë Faith held alone, with no consolation asked of anyone.
- Eric Liddell Staying useful where one is shut in, and believing that nothing is lost.
- Esther Ahn Kim Memory as the last possession, when everything else is confiscated.
- Etty Hillesum Prayer in the midst of darkness. Keeping the heart large.
- Fannie Lou Hamer Prayer that rises and sets out walking: believing that God acts through those who refuse to resign themselves.
- Félicité Niyitegeka Refusing to be saved alone, and staying tender even in the farewell.
- Félix Varela Truth that consoles: serving God by serving others, even in exile, without bitterness.
- Festo Kivengere Forgiveness offered to the enemy as a strength, and the joy of the Gospel carried through trial.
- Florence Nightingale Prayer that becomes work: to serve the sick as one would serve God, without display.
- Frances Ellen Watkins Harper Putting one's faith into poems for those who have no platform.
- Frances Xavier Cabrini Prayer that crosses borders: to stay near the exile and tell him he is not forgotten.
- François Massabki What cannot be taken from us, even when everything is taken.
- François Xavier Desire that never settles: always farther, as long as someone remains who has not heard of God.
- François-Xavier Nguyễn Văn Thuận Hope in the present tense: when the future is confiscated, filling with love the minute at hand.
- Frans van der Lugt Staying when leaving would be reasonable, and refusing to the end to give hatred the last word.
- Franz Jägerstätter A conscience that cannot be bought by anyone, even when everyone advises giving in.
- Franz Stock Standing inside hatred without sharing it; remaining brother to those whom everything divides.
- Frederick Douglass Refusing to confuse God with what is done in his name.
- Friedrich Spee Taking the side of those whose confession was wrung out of them.
- George Fox Inward listening preferred to every authority, and light found inside the night itself.
- Georges Bernanos Hope as a risk to be run, receiving everything as grace.
- Gianna Beretta Molla Holiness of the everyday, in a profession and a family held to the end.
- Gladys Aylward The prayer of the unlikely sent one: to know oneself an improbable choice, and to go all the same.
- Grégoire de Tours Speaking to God, and of people, in the language you have rather than the one you wish you had.
- Harriet Jacobs To pray from a crawl space, and to refuse to lie about what one has lived.
- Harriet Tubman Active trust in God that sets one walking toward freedom, for oneself and for others.
- Hélder Câmara Hope that takes risks: keeping watch in the night and believing the desert can bloom.
- Henriette Delille Faith that decides a life: to believe, to hope, to love, and to follow it through to the end.
- Hunayn ibn Ishaq Doing one's work with exactness, and refusing to make a weapon of it.
- Ida B. Wells The refusal to look away, and truth held as a form of faithfulness.
- Ignace d'Antioche Desire that passes through fear: wanting God even in what costs the most, holding nothing back.
- Ignace Kung Pin-Mei The long faithfulness with no one watching, after the moment when everything was decided.
- Ignace Maloyan The quiet refusal, said once and never taken back.
- Isidore Bakanja Faith held fast even in the flesh, and forgiveness offered to the torturer.
- Jadwiga de Pologne Political power redirected toward the poor, generosity that outran what was expected, a short life spent building things that would outlast her.
- Janani Luwum The word held firm before violence, and the prayer that does not yield to fear.
- Jarena Lee Persistence against a closed door, courage to preach without permission when permission never came, an authority claimed from conviction rather than granted by title.
- Jean Chrysostome The word that defends the poor, and thanksgiving held even in the loss of all.
- Jean de Brébeuf Patient rootedness in a language and a people, to the point of total gift.
- Jean Donovan Staying with the little ones when the reasonable thing would be to leave.
- Jean Hus Holding to what one has understood, even alone, even without support.
- Jeanne d'Arc The boldness of obeying God rather than the powerful, and naked trust before one's judges.
- Jeanne de Chantal Grief transformed into founding purpose, a religious life made possible for women turned away elsewhere, steadiness through repeated loss.
- Jeanne Mance Going to nurse where nothing yet exists; the stubbornness of foundations no one signs.
- Jerzy Popiełuszko Disarming fear; refusing revenge without conceding anything of the truth.
- John Bunyan The way of faith as a pilgrimage through trial, grace greater than sin.
- John Sung The call to conversion of heart, held within the body's weakness.
- John Wesley Faith that takes to the road toward those no one reaches.
- José de Anchieta Learning the language of those you are sent to; writing where there is no paper.
- José Sánchez del Río A child's faithfulness stronger than fear, the gladness of self-gift.
- Joseph Wresinski Refusing to let poverty silence anyone; treating dignity as a right and not as alms.
- Josephine Butler Prayer that pushes outward, toward those society covers with shame.
- Julia Greeley Giving at night to spare the shame of the one who receives; a charity that refuses to be seen.
- Julien Nakaura The prayer of someone who gives his name when it would be wiser to keep quiet.
- Justin de Naplouse To seek the truth wherever it shines, and to recognize it whole in Christ.
- Kanzo Uchimura Faith rooted in one's own people, and a conscience that bows to God alone.
- Kateri Tekakwitha Stubbornly seeking what pleases God when everyone around opposes it.
- Katharine Drexel Wealth and time poured out without return, for the sake of the despised.
- Laura Montoya Seeking God where he has no shrine: love knows how to find him wherever he gives himself.
- Leonella Sgorbati Forgiveness given with the last breath, without strength and without preparation.
- Lilias Trotter A brilliant future set aside for a harder calling, patience among communities others had given up reaching, decades of quiet translation work instead of the fame she could have had.
- Liliʻuokalani Dispossession borne without hatred, and the prayer that remains when no other recourse does.
- Lorenzo Ruiz The faithfulness of the ordinary believer, without rank or eloquence, who discovers in the hour of trial the strength to hold firm.
- Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort The prayer of someone who has put nothing aside for tomorrow.
- Luc de Simferopol Care of bodies and souls held in a single hand, and trial passed through until it becomes purification.
- Lucian Tapiedi The faithfulness that will not save itself alone, but stays beside its own.
- Lucie de Syracuse Keeping the heart free for God, carrying light in the middle of the night.
- Lucretia Mott The inward light recognised in every human being, with no exception and no precondition.
- Madame Élisabeth de France Calm consent to what was never chosen.
- Mahalia Jackson Sung prayer: to lift up hope when the voice carries what words cannot say.
- Mama Antula Boldness that perseveres: when the roads seem closed, walking on anyway and letting Providence smooth them.
- Manche Masemola The stubborn faithfulness of a heart that has found something greater than fear.
- Marcel Callo The faith of an ordinary young man held to the end; the friendship of Christ tested in exhaustion.
- Margaret Clitherow The hidden faithfulness of daily life, protecting others at one's own expense and leaving all judgment to God alone.
- Margaret Fell An open house as a form of prayer, and speech claimed for those refused it.
- María de la Luz Camacho Standing in front of the door, unarmed, because that was where you happened to be.
- Maria Goretti Purity defended to the end, forgiveness stronger than violence.
- Maria Restituta Kafka The quiet refusal to give way on what is essential, even to the gift of one's life.
- Maria W. Stewart Taking the floor when no one has given it to you.
- Marianne Cope The joy of choosing what everyone else refuses, and bringing beauty into it.
- Marianne de Jésus de Quito Offering one's life for one's people, praying in secret for the whole city.
- Marie Dentière Not keeping to oneself what one has received, on the grounds that one has no right to speak of it.
- Marie Skobtsova Finding God in the face of the other: a hospitality that makes every open table a holy place.
- Marie-Clémentine Anuarite Nengapeta Faithfulness kept in the body itself, and forgiveness offered to the aggressor.
- Martin de Tours Sharing what one has, serving without shirking the task.
- Martin Luther King Prayer that disarms: to draw from God what it takes to answer hatred with love.
- Mary Dyer Going back where one is forbidden, for love of those who suffer there.
- Mary MacKillop Doing all you can with what you have, and calmly leaving the rest to God.
- Mary McLeod Bethune Bequeathing what one did not receive, so that others may have it.
- Mary Slessor Prayer as a climate: a whole life breathed in answered prayer, unhurried, one day at a time.
- Mary Ward Faithfulness to a true intuition, held against misunderstanding and rejection.
- Matthias Mulumba Kalemba The patience of the body when there is nothing left to do but last.
- Maxime le Confesseur Love as the summit of the spiritual life, higher than all knowledge.
- Mélanie l'Ancienne Naming oneself by belonging to God, and not by what one owns.
- Menno Simons The faith that cannot lie down, and that gets up as concrete acts.
- Michael Sattler Refusing the weapon, including when one is the one being struck.
- Miguel Pro Joy that refuses to be confiscated, and forgiveness given at the very moment everything is taken away.
- Mrs Prest The faith of an unlettered woman, held alone against her own household.
- Nano Nagle The dogged service of the little ones in the dark, a light carried where faith is hindered.
- Nino de Géorgie To bear witness to Christ by a simple, unarmed presence, when one has neither rank nor power to impose oneself.
- Olaudah Equiano Freedom wrested from injustice, and Providence discerned in the smallest ordeal.
- Olympias de Constantinople Standing with those we love when they fall; giving away without measure what was received.
- Omelian Kovch Staying where you are of use, even when a door opens to leave.
- Óscar Romero A voice that prays aloud on behalf of those who have been silenced.
- Ottobah Cugoano Speech given back to those from whom it was taken, and God held as the father of all without exception.
- Paul Chong Hasang The perseverance of beginning again: rebuilding without priests, without structures, with fidelity alone.
- Paul Le Bao Tinh Joy that holds firm at the bottom of the trial, because one is not alone there.
- Paul Miki Forgiveness offered from the cross itself, without hatred.
- Perpétue de Carthage Naming who you are before God, and holding to it when everything urges you to yield.
- Peter To Rot The hidden fidelity of the layperson who keeps the faith alive, and the courage not to stay silent.
- Phillis Wheatley Praise wrested from the night: singing mercy without silencing injustice.
- Pierre Chanel The trust that God's work holds, even if one falls.
- Polycarpe de Smyrne Keeping and handing on the faith received, and standing firm to the end without raising one's voice.
- Rabbi Akiva To love God to the last breath, and to hold every person as beloved.
- Rafaravavy Rasalama The singing that holds a person upright when nothing is left but the voice.
- Rani Maria Vattalil Recognizing Christ in the poor, even to giving one's life, and the forgiveness that makes kin again.
- Richard Allen Dignity that does not shout and does not yield, and anger turned into a house built.
- Robert Southwell Poetry as the breathing of faith, and gentleness kept under duress.
- Roger Williams Liberty of conscience held as a demand of faith, not as its opposite.
- Rosa Parks The inward decision made before the trial, which makes fear fall away of itself.
- Rose de Lima The certainty that trial is not a dead end but a passage, and that grace comes after.
- Rutilio Grande The Gospel given back to the poor as a dignity, and prayer that becomes concrete solidarity.
- Samson Occom To serve without being repaid, and to say so without falling silent.
- Samuel Ajayi Crowther The prayer of the freed one: to give thanks for deliverance and to pass it on to one's own.
- Sára Salkaházi Offering in advance what you do not yet know you will have to give.
- Sarah Copia Sullam Answering for oneself, when others have spoken in one's place.
- Sarah du désert Holding fast in the battle without asking for it to end: praying for strength rather than for relief.
- Shushanik A quiet refusal when yielding would be comfortable; the fidelity of a woman standing alone against her own household.
- Sojourner Truth Talking to God as to someone (plainly, out loud) and truly expecting something of him.
- Sol Hachuel Refusing to be given another name, even under threat.
- Sophie Scholl Praying with a barren heart, and doing what is right when everyone else stays silent.
- Stanley Rother The shepherd who does not flee: staying with one's own when danger comes.
- Stefan Wyszyński Firmness without bitterness; the patience of a man who counts in decades rather than in victories.
- Stephen Kim Sou-hwan Physical courage placed between power and the vulnerable, a church that became sanctuary in fact and not just in name, authority used to shield rather than to command.
- Synclétique d'Alexandrie The dry beginnings of prayer: smoke that stings the eyes before the fire catches.
- Takayama Ukon The surrender of rank and goods rather than betray what matters most.
- Thea Bowman To bring to God all that one is, holding back nothing of one's history.
- Thomas Becket Not leaving the place where one has been set, even knowing what is coming.
- Thomas Cranmer Praying in words anyone can say, and coming back after giving way.
- Thomas Ken A day bounded by two prayers, and the polite refusal that costs a man his office.
- Thomas More The fidelity of conscience when everything pushes one to yield, and peace kept in the heart of trial.
- Tikhon de Moscou The fidelity that blesses under persecution, without vengeance or hardening.
- Timothée Ier de Bagdad Giving an account of one's faith before someone who does not share it, without raising one's voice.
- Titus Brandsma Resisting by the truth, keeping Jesus near even in the cell.
- Toribio de Mogrovejo Service that goes out to people itself, sparing none of its steps.
- Venance Fortunat Praise sung while walking, holding up what words alone could not hold.
- Victoire Rasoamanarivo Holding the Church upright when the shepherds are gone, with no authority but faithfulness.
- Vivian Redlich Holding one's post when nobody would know, and leaving the outcome to another.
- Wanda Błeńska Love that touches what the world dares not touch, and a profession practiced as a gift of self.
- Wang Mingdao Denial passed through and not hidden, and a faithfulness that gets up again after giving way.
- Wang Zhiming The faithfulness that will not be bent, and hands kept pure for God alone.
- William Tyndale Receiving the words of prayer in one's own language, and discovering that God needs no interpreter.
- William Wilberforce The perseverance of a conscience enlightened by prayer, holding firm for decades in a just fight.
- Wiremu Tāmihana To stand up for your own people without hurrying into anger.
- Yeghishé Holding on to one's faith when told to give it another name.
- Zilpha Elaw Going anyway, without waiting to be equipped.