The Martyr of the Titanic

Alive Publishing ^ | 4/14/12 | Joanna Moorhead

[Talisker]

People like these brave priests knew the moment they found out what had happened that the only person getting into a lifeboat after them would be the Captain - and they'd probably try to get him to go first, too.

I especially note this passage: Several passengers later testified to Fr Byles’s bravery. One, Helen Mary Mocklare, who had been a third class passenger, described how ‘a few...became very excited and then the priest again raised his hand and instantly they were calm once more. The passengers were immediately impressed by the absolute self-control of the priest.’

These priests did not give their lives on the night of April 15, 1912 - they gave their lives the moment they were ordained, years before.

[A.A. Cunningham]

The Priests Aboard Titanic

[RushingWater]

Tell us how you really feel!

[napscoordinator]

lol. Well back then I can’t say I thought that, but today IN ANY MOVIE I would applaud such a scene. In 1997, I had no idea how liberal Leo was....

[353FMG]

Oh, you’re cold.

[dangus]

My favorite moment?

“Plink!”

The sound of the guy hitting the propellor after falling the length of the now vertical Titanic. My wife and I cheered when Joel from the Soup used that scene, because I had joked about it that much.

Greatest irony of Titanic? Rose killed diCaprio (whatever his character’s name was.) She left a boat that was unfilled because she couldn’t part diCaprio. Had she stayed on the boat, DiCaprio’s character could have floated on that chest of drawers himself, and never would have frozen. Beautiful job, Rose.

[dangus]

Wow. Nicely put.

[Tijeras_Slim]

A post worthy of a FReeper.

[BluH2o]

I've been around long enough to remember the 50th anniversary of the Titanic sinking. This evening, the 100th anniversary, ABC is attempting to produce a two evening mini series version of the Titanic. Their attempt is off the Richtor scale horrible ... mostly advertising, occasionally interspersed with Titanic moments. What is with all these individual personal relationship issues ... stick to the event ... who gives a sh** about who is screwing who ... the story is about a state of the art passenger ship that sinks in the cold north Atlantic on its maiden voyage after striking a iceberg. A ‘Night to Remember’ which came out around the same time as the 50th anniversary of the sinking was much more dramatic.

[RnMomof7]

A martyr is one that gives his life for the cause of Christ.. this priest was no martyr.. he was a victim of a horrible event.. he was going to die on that ship no matter where he was or what he was doing .
It is honorable for one to give comfort when they themselves are dying..but that does not make them a martyr

[Salvation]

Someone forgot their Christian principles. Love God, Love your neighbor as yourself.

MARTYR

A person who chooses to suffer, even to die, rather than renounce his or her faith or Christian principles. After the example of Christ one does not resist one's persecutors when they use violence out of hatred or malice against Christ, or his Church, or some revealed truth of the Catholic religion. (Etym. Greek martyros, witness, martyr.)

All items in this dictionary are from Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

[boatbums]

That was also my impression when I read this article. This priest's actions were certainly heroic and admirable as were those of many, many others who put others safety before their own. There was also a minister who swam back and forth as best he could to share the gospel with those who were without Christ floating in that frigid and deadly watery grave. He wasn't a “martyr” either, and to use that word for anyone other than those who were put to death rather than deny the Lord is just not right. I think it is a word that is tossed around way too casually these days.

[Oztrich Boy]

It’s a fictional movie.

[marshmallow]

......he was going to die on that ship no matter where he was or what he was doing.

I have no desire to start a food fight over this but the above statement is inaccurate. He chose to die. If witnesses are to be believed, he was offered a spot in a lifeboat and refused. He therefore gave up his own life so that another might live, following the Gospel teaching ...."greater love hath no man.....".

Whether this makes him a "martyr" or not, I'll leave to the Almighty to decide.

[onedoug]

A lot of students at the high school where I coach baseball were surprised to learn it wasn’t a fictional event.

[Excellence]

I remember the snarky remark “Jack” made to the priest as he passed him by.

[the OlLine Rebel]

ping

[WoofDog123]

“A lot of students at the high school where I coach baseball were surprised to learn it wasn’t a fictional event.”

there apparently is an extraordinary gap in basic cultural and historical literacy among the current young generation. I guess replacing books with tv and computer games, and then social media/online, and replacing study and research in school with whatever it is they do now, does that.