Life is full of little surprises and this certainly was one of them: Hundreds of miles away bishops, cardinals, and other prelates were proclaiming the need for young and old to tell the truth about Communism and what actually happened. Without knowing it, on the very same day, our students here in Gaming were doing just that!
Last Wednesday, students from the Language and Catechetical Institute, hailing from Eastern European and Asian countries as far east as China, hosted an evening to discuss and speak about their direct and indirect experiences under Communistic or other dictatorial regimes.
Not only did they spoke to us Americans about what their mothers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, priests, and friends suffered but also about their joys, triumphs, and stories of heroic people during that time of darkness.
The turnout was great, and the stories fascinating, some frightening, and other's awe-inspiring.
As if by coincidence or divine providence, the same day as our testimonial evening, Eastern European Prelates met to discuss Communist remnants in Zagreb, Croatia.
The wounds caused by communism are still present and are poisoning the life and society of nations formerly suffering behind the Iron Curtain, affirmed Eastern European bishops.
One of the workshops during the event highlighted the need for the Church to help rebuild the "historical memory" of the years of communism, fighting "against the tendency to silence what actually happened," especially with the martyrs. In particular, it highlighted the need to help young people "know the true history" and "keep in mind the memory of those who let themselves be martyred for the faith."
Astonishingly, at the Kartause, Gaming, we fulfilled their request without even knowing it! It was truly remarkable. Through the blood-curling stories of repression and heroism, our Eastern European (LCI) students told the "true history" and what "actually happened" thus preserving the "historical memory" which is so vital to society in our present age.
In other news, it has been snowing for the past 10 days straight! I believe we are now at four feet and counting, more in other places. It feels like we are living in some sort of white paradise only read about in books; except, in fact, this time it is only real.
1 comment:
All that snow in Gaming. That is one thing I miss now and again for sure. Besides all the others.
Post a Comment