Speaking on Saturday, 17 October, in Cape Coast, during the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Society of the Holy Child in Ghana, Archbishop Palmer-Buckle challenged priests, consecrated persons and other Christians to examine whether their lives reflected the sacrifices demanded by following Christ.
“Martyrdom is the true measure of our calling,” he declared.
The Archbishop explained that the call to martyrdom should not be understood only in terms of dying for the faith, but also in the willingness to die to personal ambitions, preferences and expectations in the service of God and others.
“Luckily, you and I have not been called to die, not yet, but to die in our community, in our relationship with one another, to die to our ambitions,” he said.
He illustrated this with the experience of people whose personal aspirations may not align with the responsibilities assigned to them in their communities.
“I would have liked to become a medical doctor, but I have been sent to work at the reception. I would have liked to become maybe who? I have not even been recognised in my community.”
Priesthood and religious life require sacrifice
Archbishop Palmer-Buckle cautioned priests and religious against treating the day they make their vows or promises as the culmination of their vocation. Instead, he described it as the beginning of a life of sacrifice.
“You know, we priests and religious, sometimes we think the day I made my vows or I made my promise, that was the end of the story. That was the beginning of the carrying of the cross.”
He urged them to reflect honestly on their commitment to their vocation, stressing that the Word of God should challenge both the preacher and the congregation.
“And I asked myself, have I myself died? I’m trying. You too try.”
The Archbishop emphasised that Christian service must go beyond performing duties or fulfilling obligations. It requires a willingness to put the needs of others before personal comfort and ambition.
‘Christ did not ask for acknowledgement’
The Archbishop also cautioned against seeking public recognition for acts of service, saying Christ calls his followers to serve without expecting praise.
“We serve but we like acknowledgement. No, Christ did not ask for acknowledgement. He asked for selfless service.”
He outlined four dimensions of Christian commitment: service, selfless service, self-sacrificing service and self-giving.
He said sacrifice must extend to every state of life, including marriage, public service, politics and religious life.
“You will be required to do that in your marriage. You’ll be required to do that in your civil service. You’ll be required to do that in your political service.”
For priests and religious, he said, this means accepting the demands of their vocation even when these involve personal discomfort, unfulfilled ambitions or a lack of recognition.
“Martyrdom is the true measure of our calling” – Archbishop Palmer-Buckle tells priests, religious”Martyrdom is the true measure of our calling” – Archbishop Palmer-Buckle tells priests, religiousDrawing on the example of the pioneering sisters of the Society of the Holy Child in Ghana, Archbishop Palmer-Buckle challenged the congregation to consider whether present-day Christians were matching the commitment of those who came before them.
He recalled the difficult conditions the sisters endured in Ghana and urged the faithful to learn from their perseverance.
“They were sent here in the mosquitoes and all the yellow fever and the suffering they went through only God knows and yet they persevered.”
He questioned whether modern advantages had translated into greater dedication to the mission of the Church.
“Whether you and I like it or not, we have better technology. We have better, there are examples and everything. Are we doing any better or we become comfortable in our own little corner?”
The Archbishop called on priests, religious and laypeople to follow Christ’s example through a life of sacrifice, whatever their responsibilities or circumstances.
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