I believe that Lithuania has more Catholic martyrs per capita than any other country. When the Communists took over in 1940 the country was about 80% Catholic. Persecution began immediately. The Nazis took over in 1941. The Russian Communists took the country back in 1944. Extreme persecution was inflicted on the Catholic Church from 1945 to 1955. After that, the persecution lessoned some, but continued until the Communists fell from power in 1991. Before the Communists took over, Lithuania was the most Catholic country in Europe, with the possible exception of Poland. Four Catholic Bishops and many other Catholics died as martyrs in the persecution. Today Lithuana is 78% Catholic. Since the martyrs blood is the seed of the Church, I believe that the Lithuanian Catholic Church has a bright future.