Imagine this message being preached in Nazi Germany. That blows my mind.
A little over a century ago in 1922, Fr. Viktor arrived in Germany to open monasteries and sow the seeds of his religious order, the Passionists. He succeeded in opening three—including one in the Bavarian town of Schwarzenfeld. It’s worth sharing a post on the message he preached. It has become even more poignant with time.
We all have our burdens.
Some bear the weight of family support, a true labor of love. Some stumble beneath the overwhelming burden of work stress—or its complete opposite, unemployment. There are days where we’re scourged by grief over the passing of a loved one, by loneliness, by tensions in our closest relationships. Some of us are pierced by illness, by the aches and pains of age, by chronic disease. These days many of us shudder with fear for the future—for our children, for our country, for the world. Millions more are crucified by the most devastating conditions of all—homelessness, food insecurity, political turmoil, domestic abuse, violent crime, the horrors of war. Even the earth beneath our feet is suffering from the ravages of climate change and industrial waste.
In the middle of this, we’re compelled to ask, “Where is God?” Look at the language I’ve been using. Look in the mirror.
The Passionists have a profound answer to that question. The crucified Christ is present in all who suffer, all who are burdened and neglected and alone, all who are marginalized by society—and this holds true regardless of the color of your skin, the country of your birth, the language you speak, who you love, your political inclinations, and the religion you follow. It even applies if you don’t believe in God at all. This universal concept implores us to recognize the common ground we share beyond the boundaries of society, culture, and even faith. We don’t have to agree with each other (and lord knows we have plenty of conflicting perspectives. There’s nothing wrong with that!) But first and foremost, we are all called to see God in each other, and respond with dignity and compassion.
If the religious language makes you itch like a wool sweater, read it this way: every last one of us is sacred. Act accordingly.
Now, imagine this message being preached in Nazi Germany. That blows my mind.
The Nazis did their best to dismantle Fr. Viktor’s religious province and prevent this universal message from taking root in a land ruled by fascism and state-sponsored prejudice. They succeeded in shuttering two out of three monasteries and limiting the Passionist message to one town.
The Bavarian village of Schwarzenfeld.
Useful reminders
This post is part of a month-long series celebrating historical events that contributed to my debut historical fiction novel, The Sower of Black Field. Visit the “Latest News” area on my website for a recap »
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