The faith of a martyr; executed in Iraq because of the hate of ISIS

James Foley, Marquette ’96, Writing On The Power Of Prayer

August 19, 2014 by Frank Weathers

The reports are flooding in that journalist James Foley has been beheaded by the terrorists of the Islamic State. He had been kidnapped while on assignment in Syria several years ago.
If the reports, and video, released today are true, then this heinous act is meant to threaten the United States, and all people who recognize the dignity of human persons, into leaving ISIS unmolested as they perpetrate further crimes against humanity, and enslave populations under their particular brand of jihadist tyranny.
I doubt that this tactic will be effective.
I also believe that if Mr. Foley has indeed been killed, LORD have mercy on his soul, then he has joined the ranks of the Christian martyrs, as have all the Christians that ISIS has slain up to this point.
Back in 2011, see, while on assignment in Libya, Foley and a colleague had been imprisoned and held in a military detention center in Tripoli. He wrote of his imprisonment, and of the solace he found in praying the rosary during his incarceration there, in the Marquette alumni magazine.

Phone call home
A letter from James Foley, Arts ’96, to Marquette.

Marquette University has always been a friend to me. The kind who challenges you to do more and be better and ultimately shapes who you become.

With Marquette, I went on some volunteer trips to South Dakota and Mississippi and learned I was a sheltered kid and the world had real problems. I came to know young people who wanted to give their hearts for others. Later I volunteered in a Milwaukee junior high school up the street from the university and was inspired to become an inner-city teacher. But Marquette was perhaps never a bigger friend to me than when I was imprisoned as a journalist.

Myself and two colleagues had been captured and were being held in a military detention center in Tripoli. Each day brought increasing worry that our moms would begin to panic. My colleague, Clare, was supposed to call her mom on her birthday, which was the day after we were captured. I had still not fully admitted to myself that my mom knew what had happened. But I kept telling Clare my mom had a strong faith.

I prayed she’d know I was OK. I prayed I could communicate through some cosmic reach of the universe to her.

I began to pray the rosary. It was what my mother and grandmother would have prayed. 
I said 10 Hail Marys between each Our Father. It took a long time, almost an hour to count 100 Hail Marys off on my knuckles. And it helped to keep my mind focused.

Clare and I prayed together out loud. It felt energizing to speak our weaknesses and hopes together, as if in a conversation with God, rather than silently and alone.

Later we were taken to another prison where the regime kept hundreds of political prisoners. I was quickly welcomed by the other prisoners and treated well.

One night, 18 days into our captivity, some guards brought me out of the cell. In the hall I saw Manu, another colleague, for the first time in a week. We were haggard but overjoyed to see each other. Upstairs in the warden’s office, a distinguished man in a suit stood and said, “We felt you might want to call your families.”

I said a final prayer and dialed the number. My mom answered the phone. “Mom, Mom, it’s me, Jim.”

“Jimmy, where are you?”

“I’m still in Libya, Mom. I’m sorry about this. So sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry, Jim,” she pleaded. “Oh, Daddy just left. Oh … He so wants to talk to you. How are you, Jim?” I told her I was being fed, that I was getting the best bed and being treated like a guest.

“Are they making you say these things, Jim?”

“No, the Libyans are beautiful people,” I told her. “I’ve been praying for you to know that I’m OK,” I said. “Haven’t you felt my prayers?”

Read it all.

Lord Jesus, Holy Son of the Father, have mercy on the soul of James Foley, and all of the departed faithful. Bring him, and all those martyred by ISIS, into the light of your Presence, Oh Lord. Comfort his family and friends as they mourn his loss, and remember the strength of his faith. Amen.
(H/T  Catholic Vote)
(H/T Frank Weathers)