With God and Father Ciszek in Rome
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Read newsletter online [email protected] 2014 Issue I www.ciszek.org With God and Father Ciszek in Rome On June 10, 2013, after a hiatus of nearly fifteen years and nearly · twenty years to the day that I first visited, I returned to Rome. International travel is always interesting and this trip was no different. I shared a shuttle from the airport to the center of the City of Rome with an Iranian doctor. He spoke English and it had been his first trip to Rome. He must have sensed that I knew where I was going (not sure I had that sense!) so we began a conversation after disembarking our aircraft and making our way through customs and, after he bought me a cappuccino, we shared the cost of the taxi into the center of town. I'm sure the State Department of the United States and the Foreign Ministry of Iran would not have approved of our conversation. It ranged from politics, the relations between our respective countries, religion, and the ancient cultures from which we both sprang- Rome and Persia. As we were entering the walls of the ancient city, my interlocutor was taking pains to tell me how much more glorious the ancient Persian monuments in Tehran were compared Rev. Walter]. Ciszek, S.]. ~~--':---·- to Rome. Of course I disagreed, and perhaps risking an international PRAvi:iF<>RA--FA.YoR incident, proclaimed the glory of the Eternal City. It was all very polite, THROUGH THE but we were hardened in our positions. As we left each other, we wished INTERCESSION OF each other well and made our way to our respective destinations. FATHER WALTER CISZEK, S.J. Meeting this gentleman was a rather auspicious beginning for my Roman pilgrimage. Indeed, I think a bit of the influence of Fr. Ciszek Almighty God, we love, adore and was at work in my interaction with him. This was not an Iranian, or a praise You as our Creator and Loving Father. Look with compassion and mercy Muslim, or even a doctor. This was a fellow man sharing his experiences, upon us. Hear our prayer in this time of ideas, and his convictions with me. His interaction was one of openness special need and through the intercession and kindness. Indeed, neither of our convictions about ultimate things of Father Walter Ciszek, grant the changed, but I saw him as someone made in God's image and likeness and following favor if it is Your Holy Will. therefore worthy of respect. Whatever the chasm of the philosophical, (Mention the Request) political and religious positions between the two of us, I was reminded of Most loving God, accept our gratitude for hearing this prayer. May the Fr. Ciszek's words: "You cannot love God and hate what He loves." knowledge of the virtues and holiness of This trip to Rome was in essence about the love of God- in particular Father Walter be recognized and known the love of God as shown by one of his saints. I was invited by Fr. Marc to provide a lasting example to draw sinners to reconciliation and to lead souls Lindeijer, SJ to the Jesuit Curia in Rome to conduct research with him in to sanctity. support of the Cause of Canonization of Fr. Ciszek. This was one of the For You are our God and we are great honors of my life. The research that we conducted was largely sifting Your people and we glorify You, Father, through documents showing Fr. Ciszek's kindness and love for all people Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever. Amen. and how he embodied, to a heroic degree, the virtues. Letters, personal notes, retreat notes, provided a spiritual testament of sorts. In addition, we Please inform the Prayer League ofan y looked at historical materials about Fr. Ciszek and had many discussions as special favors from Father Walter Ciszek. to Father's spirituality and message. continued on page 3 ;' ~ By Rev. Thomas J. Sable, S.J. We ask members of the Prayer League and/or the readers of this newsletter to pray for the success of a film project about the life God Whispers ... awesome! of Father Walter Ciszek, that all the financial, legal, and technical difficulties may be overcome for the production of a successful and Father Ciszek in his book, He Leadeth Me, tells of useful film. the courage he found in prayer- a courage that eased the loneliness, the pain, the frustrations, the anguish, DECEASED: Marjorie Barres the fears, the despair of so many years in prison and HEALTH: Joseph Campbell, Mrs. Alfons Sobolesky, labor camps. Prayer requires us to sit still. Sitting Alfred Kielbasa, Yolanda DeSantis, Peter Esposito still or being silent is often frowned upon because SPECIAL INTENTIONS: Bishop John Barres, Msgr. Ronald Bocian, Americans are taught to always be busy, to be doing Josephine Zmuda, Austin Les something. As a result, I don't think people deal MEMORIAL DONATIONS: In Memory of Leona Kolonsky with their feelings in healthy ways, especially when req. by Pat Voscavage & Leo Treshock. it comes to loneliness. Rather than dealing with the In Memory of Leona Kolonsky req. by Marion Andrews. cause of a feeling we distract ourselves by running In Memory of Leona Kolonsky req. by Bob & Liz Schlack. out to the store to buy something, turning on the TV, or other forms of amusement or entertainment. It In Memory of Thomas Aquinas Coyle req. by Mr. & Mrs. Paul Domalakes. temporarily eases discomfort, but doesn't deal with In Memory of Matthew Christian Bann req. by Trinity Academy Faculty. the underlying issues. In Memory of Mary Rose Kleha req. by Jane Paul. In Memory of Mary Rose Kleha req. by Jim & Gina Bohorad. Humans are social animals. We crave connection In Memory of Mary Rose Kleha req. by Tomtishen Family. and companionship. It's natural and important. In Memory of Mary Rose Kleha req. by Ron & Peggy Zimmerman. I think blogs and social media platforms foster In Memory of Mary Rose Kleha req. by Ed Clark. amazing connections. I don't think these tools In Memory of Mary Rose Kleha req. by Mary Wetzel. replace face-to-face communication. Meeting a In Memory of Mary Rose Kleha req. by Arlene & Ray Sachleben & Family. friend for coffee is a much different experience In Memory of Mary Rose Kleha req. by Francis & Margaret McAndrew. than talking on Facebook or Twitter. Although the In Memory of Mary Rose Kleha req. by John & Mary Ann Tacelosky. internet has connected many of us together, are we In Memory of Mary Rose Kleha req. by Martina Nestor. really connecting or are we becoming more lonely? In Memory of Mary Rose Kieha req. by Lois Reichwein. -we don't need a computer to getln contact with God, In Memory of Mary Rose Kleha req. by John & Sally Bane. who is our greatest friend. God speaks in the silence F- In Memory of Mary Rose Kleha req. by Bob & Peggy Allen. of our hearts just as He did to Elijah the prophet on Mount Sinai: "Go out and stand before me on top In Memory of Mary Rose Kleha req. by Roberto & Maxine Mauricio. of the mountain," the Lord said to him. Then the In Memory of Jack Arndts req. by Bob & Joanne Frank. Lord passed by and sent a furious wind that split the For all whose names were previously on our list, but who are still in need of our prayers; for all those who have requested prayers of the League; for all prayer league members, for hills and shattered the rocks-but the Lord was not all those who are praying through the intercession of Father Walter Ciszek; and for all who in the wind. The wind stopped blowing, and then need our prayers. there was an earthquake-but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was a fire- "For/From the Friends of Walter Ciszek, S.J." but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire A Publication of the Father Walter Ciszek Prayer League there was the soft whisper of a voice. When Elijah Official Organization for the Promotion of the Cause of heard it, he covered his face with his cloak and went Canonization of Father Walter Ciszek, S.J. 231 N. Jardin Street out and stood at the entrance of the cave. A voice Shenandoah, PA 17976 said to him, "Elijah, what are you doing here?'' Editor: DanielL. Flaherty, S.J. Elijah had learned to hear the whisper of God, not Executive Editor : Elaine Cusat by being "busy" or successful as a prophet. Why are Staff: Msgr. Anthony D. Muntone, we all in such a hurry? Do we really create a beautiful Rev. Thomas F. Sable, S.J. , life if we we're rushing from place to place? And if Circulation Manager Sister Doris Burkot, O.S.F. everyone is so busy, how do we create meaningful Business Manager Elaine Cusat connections with each other? "Friends of Walter Ciszek, S.J ." is published four times a year for friends Slow down, find a place to sit still to listen to and contributors to the Father Walter Ciszek Prayer League. Copies mailed the whisper of God. Take your time or just start to from Shenandoah, PA. For a subscription, write: The Prayer League, 231 N. take your time. Rushing from place to place can be Jardin Street, Shenandoah, PA 17976. Current cost is $10 a year. Manuscripts counterproductive. Being busy can sometimes erode should be sent to: Editor, Prayer League, 231 N.