Posted on 10/07/2005 3:16:56 PM PDT by RKBA Democrat
A Romanian prelate stirred deep emotions at the Synod of Bishops on October 6, with a powerful speech praising the Catholic martyrs who suffered for the faith under Communist rule in his country.
Archbishop Lucian Muresan of Fagaras-Alba Julia was heavily applauded by the 250 bishops participating in the Synod at the conclusion of his 6-minute speech. He had recounted how Romanian Catholics of the Eastern rite endured brutal repression by Communist authorities who "had a great fear of God, who is present in the Eucharist."
The Communist regime aspired "to give men just material 'bread,'" the archbishop said. In the process they deformed the consciences of many people in Romania. The Catholics who resisted were thrown in jail, and subjected to "re-education" programs that ridiculed priests, blasphemed the Eucharist, and denied the faithful access to the sacraments.
But persecution did not break the faith of Romanian Catholics, Archbishop Muresan said. He continued:
On the contrary, how many times was Mass celebrated secretly, with a spoon used in place of a chalice, and wine made from a few grapes found by the side of the road? How many rosaries were made from crumbs of bread strung on a wire? How many humiliations were borne-- when in the middle of winter, they were strip-searched in freezing temperatures? How many days were spent in the notorious isolation chambers, were they were sent for punishment because they had been caught trying to pray? No one will ever know.
"These martyrs of the 20th century offered all their suffering to the Lord, for human dignity and human freedom," the archbishop said. Today, he said, those who died are "living in the freedom of sons of God." The fruits of their martyrdom are also evident in the profound devotion that is widespread within the Romanian Catholic Church, he added.
Nevertheless, Archbishop Muresan continued, Romania continues to suffer from "very deep wounds" inflicted by the Communist regime. He pointed to the high abortion rate, the widespread abandonment of infants, and general public corruption.
Ping
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