Liberation

By Jillian Cooke, MTh, MAPM
Fr. Kolbe Missionary 

"Soldiers of the 60th Army of the First Ukrainian Front opened the gates of Auschwitz Concentration Camp on January 27, 1945. The prisoners greeted them as authentic liberators. It was a paradox of history that soldiers formally representing Stalinist totalitarianism brought freedom to the prisoners of Nazi totalitarianism." (en.auschwitz.org) 

The road out of the concentration camp was long and arduous. Very, very few survivors managed to leave the camps without sperning weeks and months in a field hospital run by the Soviets or the Polish Red Cross. The re-introduction to food, something seemingly simple, was actually complex. Survivors were known to overeat themselves to death (an easy feat), or to hoard what little they received - not willing to believe they would eat again. Those who managed to eat (and only eat) three bites of "mashed potatoe soup" a day and gradually work up to more fared the best. 

The mental anguish was tremendous. Most children spent their lives in orphanages and homes. Many survivors made their way to Israel, the United States, and South America. With no home, no family, and a terrifying history, these sought new paths. The world was horrified to learn and come face to face with the atrocities they endured, and awed by their resilience and faith. 

 Perhaps nothing expresses the soul of a survivor better than Marian Kolodziej's "The Labrynth" - stunningly documented in a film of the same name. In Marian's own words " This is not an exhibit, nor art, nor images, but words contained in designs." These "words" express an inner intensity, a careful soul searching, dying to self, and ultimately resurrection. While one can still never imagine life in Auscwhitz, the Labrynth takes us into the human soul, and thus becomes frighteningly personal.* 

And, certainly no story of heroism and virtue is better known than that of Franciszek Gajowniczek's personal liberation from death when St. Maximilian Kolbe offered to die in his place. Mr. Gajowniczek survived until 1995, "repaying the debt to St. Maximilian" by spreading his story and sharing his gratitude.  So complete was his work that he became known as the man who St. Maximilian saved, even in death sharing the story.

Today, the cell of St. Maximilian, with its candle often surrounded by flowers, stands as a constant reminder that no barbed-wire, no prison walls, not even evil - can capture and imprison the human soul that unites itself to God. The "Cell of Love is Always Open," and continues to give life and spread its love as St. Maximilian wished "to every corner of the earth."

Join us, then, at the Cell of Love and offer your petitions, dreams, and hopes! 

*You can order a DVD through Immacualta Press 
FKMissioanries@gmail.com; 626-917-0040

Standing outside Barrack 11. We can't imagine... but we can pray.

Insecurity. Root of All Evil?

I go around telling people that the world is intrinsically good. I believe

this, unshakably  until some teen from the inner city wonders why his brother is in jail and he's never seen his father. An older person tells of a history of being abused, for the first time in fifty years. Gay Marriage is actually being considered an option by the judicial system. Abortion is on the decline, but contraception is on the rise. Etc, etc, etc.

Then, there are the sins of the masses: greed, anger, lust, sloth, envy, gluttony, and pride.

There is a temptation to bury the truth of the goodness of creation under a pile of partisan pillage, and be done with the whole thing. But, then you ask yourself: Why do I sin?

I venture to guess the answer is simple, though no one wants to admit it: I'm insecure.  This isn't some far-fetched theory either. What was Eve's big sin? She acted on a shadow of insecurity. Maybe I'm not good enough, maybe I could be better, maybe God isn't all He says he is, maybe...... (bites apple). Dang it, I'm naked.

You may be thinking, great. So we're stuck with a billion plus insecure people making idiotic decisions, because they've got their ego on the wrong shelf. Hold on though. How amazingly clear does the need for the "new evangelization" now become?

Pope Benedict reminded us that evangelization is introducing people to the person of Christ. (btw, I find it very interesting that evangelization isn't recognized in the spell-check) At the core of humanities crisis is an identity crisis. The new evangelization is all about introducing Christ to individuals people, so that they no longer have to hold onto their piggy banks, unbridled pleasure, passive-anger, self-image, etc.... for their happiness and security.

The ANCHOR, an ancient Christian symbol, must be OUR SECURITY, so that we can go out and let others hold onto us and finally to Christ.

Admit it. You're insecure.... just be sure to reach for the ONE who can bring true freedom.

Hiding the Image of God.

"Genuine freedom is an outstanding manifestation of the divine image in man. For God willed to leave man 'in the power of his own counsel' (cf. Sir 15:14), so that he would seek his Creator of his own accord and would freely arrive at full and blessed perfection by cleaving to God." (Veritatis Splendor 34) 

all rights reserved.

We are given the freedom to seek the Creator or to walk away from the Creator. The former holds our happiness, the latter our misery.  This freedom is not a merciless risk on God's part, but a revealing of our dignity. Not only do we have a right to the exercise of this freedom - the pursuit of God in all that is true, good, and beautiful, but we also have the obligation to do so. 


What does this all amount to? Consider someone who walked up to you and demanded that you supply the knife for him to slash your own tires, and your neighbors. We would balk at such audacity. Now, consider the government demands that you pay for someone to act in direct opposition to the dignity of the human person: kill and/or desecrate sex, sexuality, and family. 


This is what is happening when the government requires that Catholic Institutions (our money) be used to pay for abortifacients and birth control. Our conscience are not free to choose what is good, true, or beautiful. We are being coerced and manipulated - our reason under attack. Conscience, Reason, Freedom - all being made into relative, subjective ideas at the beck and call of the majority - amounts to an attack on the very heart of who we are as creatures created in the Image and Likeness of God. 


This is no small thing. While, we know that NO ONE can ever take that dignity away. It is our hope and prayer  that we defend that dignity, and never allow anyone or anything (including our own indifference) to desecrate it. We must never hide the image of God in us, but insist on using our reason, forming our conscience in the pursuit and exercise of genuine freedom. 


Let us Pray:

O God our Creator,

Through the power and working of your Holy Spirit,
you call us to live out our faith in the midst of the world,
bringing the light and the saving truth of the Gospel
to every corner of society.

We ask you to bless us
in our vigilance for the gift of religious liberty.
Give us the strength of mind and heart
to readily defend our freedoms when they are threatened;
give us courage in making our voices heard
on behalf of the rights of your Church
and the freedom of conscience of all people of faith.

Grant, we pray, O heavenly Father,
a clear and united voice to all your sons and daughters
gathered in your Church
in this decisive hour in the history of our nation,
so that, with every trial withstood
and every danger overcome—
for the sake of our children, our grandchildren,
and all who come after us—
this great land will always be "one nation, under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.