Today in the Catholic Church is the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, commemorating when Constantine’s mother, St. Helena, discovered Christ’s own cross. And somehow it seems very appropriate to reflect on the power of faith through suffering and death given that Charlie Kirk was assassinated this week and he wanted his legacy to be his faith.
Kirk was a devout Christian, and his wife is a devout Catholic. They were teaching their children to put Christ at the center of their lives. But Kirk’s faith extended beyond his family life to inform his work. In fact, the last question he completely answered Wednesday before he was shot was a religious question.
In a June appearance on “The Iced Coffee Hour” podcast, Jack Shelby asked Kirk what he hoped his legacy would be if “everything completely goes away.” Kirk clarified, “If I die?” Selby did not feel comfortable using those words, but did repeat his question and ask what the one thing was that Kirk hoped people would remember about him.
“I want to be remembered for courage for my faith,” Kirk replied. “That would be the most important thing; most important thing is my faith.” He became beloved by many and hated by many more because of his political work. However, he did not want to be remembered as a successful political activist or organizer, but as a man of faith. I think the Founders would be proud.
Charlie Kirk on how he wanted to be remembered.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) September 11, 2025
Question: “How would you wanna be remembered?”
Charlie: “I wanna be remembered for courage for my faith. That that would be the most important thing. The most important thing is my faith in my life.” pic.twitter.com/fwBV9UVefc
Related: DC Officials to Honor Charlie Kirk at Kennedy Center Vigil
While Kirk knew that his work put him in a dangerous position, I don’t think he expected to be assassinated. Why assassinate a conservative famous for debating and engaging with people in the most charitable manner possible? Perhaps we have not faced up to the depth of evil which the Democrat Party has encouraged its followers to wallow in. Then again, the Democrats glorify the dismembering of unborn babies and Islamic terrorism against Jewish and Christian civilians, so even someone like Charlie Kirk seems a justifiable target to them.
30% of Christians are NOT registered to vote.
— ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) September 14, 2025
I’m putting it on your heart to reach out to your priest for permission to do voter registration at your church.
People of faith must rise up (peacefully).
St. John Chrysostom once said, “For Christians above all men are forbidden to correct the stumblings of sinners by force...it is necessary to make a man better not by force but by persuasion.” That is just what Charlie did — he tried to persuade people, especially young people. He was so effective at it that a deranged leftist killed him for it while he was in the middle of a peaceful and respectful debate.
Charlie Kirk was certainly killed for his beliefs, but out of all his beliefs on politics and culture, he knew that his faith was the most important, and he most hoped to inspire other people to believe the same. And he might be more powerful in his death than he was during life.
Christ emphasized that the only way to follow Him was through the cross, through suffering and perhaps even martyrdom (Luke 9:23). Indeed, He said that those who suffered persecution were blessed (Matthew 5:12). Do we truly believe that?What do we want our legacies to be?
