SAINT KITZITO - WHO WAS THIS MAN?
In the 19th century A.D. in a place in the eastern part of Africa (East Africa; Uganda) was a king who though not bad himself, was a religious fanatic. His own form of traditional religion was good enough for all of his subjects both young and old. He would therefore not tolerate any form of religious freedom.
It was around this time that both the Roman Catholic and Protestant (CMS, ANGLICAN) Missionaries entered the land, Uganda. They fed the people, gave them medicine and comforted them. Naturally such actions soon won them the admiration and affection of the people.
Consequently, the missionaries converted many natives to Christianity. The king was angry that his own subjects should embrace any other religion other than the one he himself professed. He gave them an ultimatum to leave the 'white-man's religion'.
Many of the converts were afraid of the king's anger and so fled back to their old faith. Some however, were faithful to the new religion even in the face of the impending danger. This angered the king even more because they continued despite his warnings.
He rounded them up and in a period of about eighteen months, about one hundred and forty people (140) were put to death for their faith. They included both Catholics and Protestants.
In this group was a boy, the youngest of them all. He was only thirteen year old by the name of KIZITO. At the time he was arrested, he was not even a baptized Christian. He was still undergoing instruction in preparation for Baptism (Catechism).
He was however baptized just before he was killed with the others. The leader of the group by the name of Kagwa baptized him with his own native name Kizito before he was martyred.
HOW DID KIZITO DIE?
Kizito, a lad with a strong faith, shun the king's order to return to his religion preferring to die. Just after his baptism, he was called out, tied in both hands mounted on top of a raised platform of wood that was lit on fire from the bottom. All of this was happening in the presence of people who were dancing and shouting the praise of the king. Kizito thus died a gradual death with the firewood burning from the bottom and the flame covering his whole body later.
MARTYRDOM
In the year 1060, Pope Paul VI, selected twenty-two of the martyrs whose identities were certain and pronounced them saints. Kizito was one of the twenty-two and thus we have a "Saint Kizito" a Ugandan, and African. Saint Kizito pray for us.
Compiled from "African Martyrology" by A.O. Oshindina, the 1st Principal, 12/07/1977
History . St Kizito . Officials
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