Survival and Recognition
Although shipwrecked on this journey, Llull survived and arrived in Pisa, Italy, a hero of the church.
As a direct result of his determination to reach the Muslims for Christ, in 1311, the Council of Vienne decreed that the universities of Paris, Salamanca, and Oxford should all teach Islamic languages and literature so that Christians could have a positive effect when sharing Christianity with Muslims. This was quite a victory for Llull who desperately desired a greater understanding among Christians of Islamic thought.
Third Trip to Bejaia
Third Trip: Again to Bejaia in 1314. Raymon Llull was now an old man, seventy-nine years old. His friends anticipated that, after his victory in Vienne, he would surely rest on his laurels and live the rest of his days in peace and scholarship; but Llull had different ideas; he had no intention of dying as a philosopher—he wanted to die as a missionary.
He longed not only for the martyr’s crown but also once more to see his little band of believers. Animated by these sentiments, he crossed over to Bejaia on August 14, and for nearly a whole year laboured secretly among a little circle of converts, whom on his previous visits he had won over to the Christian faith.
Ministry and Final Move
He ministered for over ten months, hiding, talking, and praying with Christians in Bejaia; urging them and others to remember God’s unsurpassable love in Christ—the depth, breadth, and height of this love.
Finally, tired of hiding, Llull made the move that he knew would bring his death.
To be continued…
Date: 27th July 2024
Martyr: Ramon Llull
Location: Not specified
Source: God’s Generals – The Martyrs
Author: Roberts Liardon
Suffering Saturday 101
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