Saint Charles Lwanga

Saint Charles Lwanga martyrdom was heroic to say the least. 

In the late 1870s, Christianity had been making it's way to Uganda.  The White Fathers, a congregation of priests founded by Cardinal Lavigerie (archbishop of Carthage and Algiers and primate of Africa) were peacefully received by King Mutesa of Uganda.  The priests soon began preparing catechumens for baptism and it wasn't long before many of the pages in the king's court had become Catholic. 

However, after King Mutesa passed away, his very corrupt and abusive son Mwanga took the throne.  King Mwanga had a visiting Anglican Bishop murdered. His chief page, Joseph Mukasa, a Catholic who went to great length to protect the younger boys from the king’s lust, denounced the king’s actions and was beheaded on November 15, 1885.

Realizing how dangerous King Mwanga was, Charles Lwanga and several other pages went to the White Fathers seeking baptism. 
King Mwanga found out about the boys learning the catechism a separeted the Christians from the non-Christians.  There were 15 Christians who when questioned, said they would keep their faith "until death."  The 15 pages, ranging in age from 13 to 25 sentenced to death and were to be burned at the stake. 

On June 3, 1886, the Feast of the Ascension, Charles Lwanga was separated from the others and burned at the stake. The executioners slowly burnt his feet until only the charred remained. Still alive, they promised him that they would let him go if he renounced his faith. He refused saying, “You are burning me, but it is as if you are pouring water over my body.”  He then continued to pray silently as they set him on fire. Just before the flames reached his heart, he looked up and said in a loud voice, “Katonda! – My God!,” and died.
  
Saint Charles Lwanga is the parton saint of African Catholic Youth Action. 

Find more information about Saint Charles Lwanga HERE