Christian Legacy

Jesus said: "Let the children come to me"

Crucifixion chronology	“Let the children come to me”
Friday, 7 April 30 CE	approximately Wednesday, 29 March 30 CE
Friday, 3 April 33 CE	approximately Thursday, 26 March 33 CE

Location: Perea, east of the Jordan River.

Texts

Matthew 19:13-15 Jesus Blesses the Little Children

13 Then some little children were brought to him so that he might lay his hands on them and pray. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14 Jesus, however, said, “Let the little children come to me, and stop keeping them away, because the kingdom from heaven belongs to people like these.” 15 When he had laid his hands on them, he went on from there.

Mark 10:13-16 Jesus Blesses the Little Children

13 Some people were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he became furious and told them, “Let the little children come to me, and stop keeping them away, because the kingdom of God belongs to people like these. 15 I tell all of you with certainty, whoever doesn’t receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” 16 Then after he had hugged the children, he tenderly blessed them as he laid his hands on them.

Luke 18:15-17 Jesus Blesses the Little Children

15 Now some people were even bringing their infants to Jesus to have him touch them. But when the disciples saw this, they sternly told the people not to do that. 16 Jesus, however, called for the children and said, “Let the little children come to me, and stop keeping them away, because the kingdom of God belongs to people like these. 17 I tell all of you with certainty, whoever doesn’t receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never get into it at all.”

Conclusions

children should be free to choose
no obstacle should exist if they want to adopt an ethos

Children Christian Martyrs

St. Agnes of Rome (c. 291–304) - Died at age 12-13. One of the most celebrated virgin martyrs. She refused a suitor's marriage proposal, declaring she would have no spouse but Christ. She was ordered to be stripped and dragged to a brothel, but according to legend, her hair miraculously grew to cover her. After surviving attempts to burn her, she was finally beheaded.

St. Eulalia of Mérida (c. 291–304) - Died at age 12-14. A virgin martyr who refused to sacrifice to pagan gods.

St. Pancras of Rome (c. 289–303/304) - Died at age 14. Martyred during Diocletian's persecution.

St. Cyricus of Antioch (c. 301–304) - Died at age 3. Son of St. Julitta, martyred with his mother.

St. Agapitus of Palestrina (c. 251/258–267/274) - Died at age 16. Martyr.

St. Dymphna (7th century) - Died at age 15. An Irish virgin martyr who was beheaded by her own pagan father for refusing to marry him after he went mad with grief over her mother's death.

St. Maria Goretti (1890–1902) - Died at age 11. One of the youngest canonized saints. She was stabbed to death by a 20-year-old farmhand who tried to rape her. She forgave her attacker before dying. Her canonization in 1950 attracted at least 250,000 people.

St. Kizito (c. 1872–1886) - Died at age 14. The youngest of the 45 Uganda Martyrs executed under King Mwanga. He was baptized secretly along with other unbaptized pages and burned alive on June 3, 1886. He is venerated as patron saint of children under age 15.

A more complete list.

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