St. Charles Lwanga and Companions
Feast day: June 3
Charles was one of 22 Ugandan martyrs who converted from paganism. He was head of the royal pages in the court of King Mwanga II of Buganda. Charles protected his fellow pages from the advances of Mwanga and instructed them in the Faith. The king, after first accepting Christianity among his people, began to insist that the converts abandon their new faith. When they would not reject Christianity, Charles and his companions were killed. Some were speared to death, and others, like Charles, were burned alive. Pope Paul VI canonized these 22 martyrs on Oct. 18, 1964. Charles is patron of converts.
Collect
O God, who have made the blood of Martyrs
the seed of Christians,
mercifully grant that the field which is your Church,
watered by the blood
shed by Saints Charles Lwanga and his companions,
may be fertile and always yield you an abundant harvest.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
