I declare: "Gods though you be, offspring of the Most High all of you, Yet like any mortal you shall die; like any prince you shall fall." - Psalm 82:6-7

In the early morning hours of March 27, 1996, twenty armed members of the Groupe Islamique Arme raided the peaceful monastery of Tibhirine in Algeria and kidnapped seven of the nine monks who lived there. They were held for two months, then assassinated.

For years, the monks had lived in harmony with the Muslim population in Algeria. They served the poor and needy in the area, providing education, employment, and medical assistance. The Blessed Martyrs of Tibhirine chose only to love, and this is their message for the Church today.

Simply Christians: The Life and Message of the Blessed Martyrs of Tibhirine is much more than the story of a historical event. Each chapter focuses on one of the seven martyrs and how he uniquely lived the words of Christ: "No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends."

Simply Christians: The Life and Message of the Blessed Martyrs of Tibhirine is the amazing true story that inspired the film "Of Gods and Men."