Pope Gregory VII (1020 - 1085) was a reforming pope who opposed the German monarchy, excommunicated Henry IV twice and tried to reform the Church. He died in exile in Salerno, Italy, his last words reputed to be, "I have loved justice and hated iniquity, therefore I die in exile."

Reforming people do get persecuted, the best example being Jesus Christ who died prematurely in agony on a cross. His life is full of meaning for us because we believe in his Resurrection, but on a secular level, is he not just another example of one man killed by a relevant authority for speaking out too often and too honestly?

That Jesus could eat and drink with sinners was intolerable to the Pharisees. What further inflamed them was his opposition to them, righteous men who followed the Law of God.

Franz Jagerstatter (1907-1943) was an Austrian conscientious objector to Nazism. He was the only person in his village to oppose Austria's annexation into a greater Germany in 1938. He refused to join the Army, refused to run away and was executed in 1943. The punishment for refusing mandatory military service was execution. He bore solitary witness against them; the Nazis created their own rules to deal with those who bucked the system.

In June 2007 Pope Benedict XVI declared him a martyr; he was declared ‘blessed' on October 26, 2007. Now he is one step away from canonisation.

"When the days drew near for him to be taken up, Jesus set his face to go to Jerusalem" (Lk 9:51). He knew and Franz knew what awaited them. From a safe distance of time and space we honour them...  but to imitate them?

Fr Gary Walker SSC is the editor of The Far East