Spiritual Direction: Learn History Now Or Suffer From It Tomorrow

Want of foresight, unwillingness to act when action would be simple and effective, lack of clear thinking, confusion of counsel until the emergency comes, until self-preservation strikes its jarring gong - these are the features which constitute the endless repetition of history.  Winston Churchill

How Feb. 2022 Was Like Sept. 1938

It was October 1918. The multi-ethnic Austro-Hungarian Empire, riveted by the First World War, is crumbling right before the end of the war. A group of Czechoslovak nationalists proclaimed independence from Austria-Hungary and established a new entity, the Republic of Czechoslovakia. The terms of the 1919 Versailles settlement formalize Czechoslovakia’s autonomy, and the newly fledged state makes its entry into the community of European nations. The problem was that they had little or no international support, little or no training on how to run a country, and little or no money. 

Ironically, although Czechoslovak nationalists had repudiated the multi-ethnic Austro-Hungarian Empire, the new republic is no less so itself. As of 1921, it consists of 64 percent Czechoslovaks and a polyglot of Germans, Ruthenians, Hungarians, and Poles, of which ethnic Germans by far constitute the largest minority at 3 million—23 percent of the new nation’s population.  This population was concentrated in areas where the Germans were the majority of the population.  If spread out evenly all over the country this would not have been as bad.  The concept was that the Germans want their freedom just as much as the Czechs did. 

Flash forward to 1938. Aided by Adolf Hitler’s Germany, a German nationalist movement swelled in western Czechoslovakia, while the breakaway faction called dibs the Sudetenland. On orders from Berlin, these nationalists place a list of deliberately unacceptable demands before the Czechoslovakian government, with the barely veiled objective of fanning a crisis Nazi Germany can exploit. The gambit works. In May 1938, alarmed by the massing of German army units on “military exercises” near the border, Czechoslovakia mobilized its own army. 

Does any of this sound familiar?  It is almost a xerox copy of the Russian playbook for their 2022 Ukraine invasion. 

France and Russia publicly affirmed existing treaty obligations to Czechoslovakia. Great Britain warned that it cannot guarantee that it will stand aside should the Germans intervene. Hitler temporarily backed down, but by September 1938 rioting had broken out in the Sudetenland, the Czechoslovakian government was declaring martial law, and war is looming between Germany and Czechoslovakia.

Did we not do the same in 2022 with the EU, NATO, and western powers all playing the roles of the other countries in the 1938 version.  Hollywood has loved remaking movies for years, but this remake is not one for the ages. 

Seeking to defuse the situation, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain flew to Germany three times in two weeks, feverishly working toward a formula that would avert war. The French government, led by Edouard Daladier, follows suit, and by the end of September, at a conference in Munich, the two great European powers impose a solution upon the hapless Czech government.

In exchange for assurances of peace, the British and French force the Czechs to relinquish the Sudetenland to Nazi Germany. The political concept that underpins this solution is appeasement—the theory that giving a disgruntled party a portion of what it wants avoids greater problems down the road. Chamberlain triumphantly returns to London, announcing that the Munich agreement guarantees “peace in our time.”

“Our time” lasts less than a year. In March 1939, Hitler grabbed the remainder of Czechoslovakia and divided his conquest into the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia and a puppet Slovak state. Appeasement has failed. Hitler’s next target is likely Poland, also home to a significant German minority. Britain and France belatedly guarantee that they will go to war against Germany if Poland is invaded. The stage is set for World War II.

Feb. 24, 2022 is the date we should all remember.  The date where history became the most important subject in school.  Forget math, science and other subjects, if we do not study history we are doomed to repeat it.  This is truth and unfortunately the people of Ukraine are paying for it.  Pray for Ukraine.  Pray for our Nation, and pray for the Church.

Putin’s Comments

Broadcast live on television at 5.45am Moscow time Feb. 24, 2022, Russian President Putin said: "Whoever tries to impede us, let alone create threats for our country and its people, must know that the Russian response will be immediate and lead to the consequences you have never seen in history.”

Does this sound like the same President Putin as he was described by Patriarch Krill in Dec. 2017. December 1, after President Vladimir Putin addressed a meeting of the Episcopal Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill concluded his thanks in these cringe-inducing terms:

“There is nothing more serious and important than moral consensus within society. If there is consensus on the main moral values, then all other social relationships are formed harmoniously … and political practice corresponds to the interests of the people.

“… I  express my gratitude to you for the dialogue we hold together … and for the atmosphere of openness in which our society lives today. I believe that this openness will be the pledge for the certain success of our Fatherland in the near and distant future.

“… I would like to wish you, much esteemed Vladimir Vladimirovich, long years of life, good health, and God’s aid in the lofty mission the Lord has entrusted to you through the will of the people … May the Lord preserve you!”

Eastern Orthodox Patriarch Comments

Shocked by the invasion of the armed forces of the Russian Federation in the territory of the Republic of Ukraine this morning, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew telephoned Metropolitan Epifaniy of Ukraine, expressing his deep sorrow at this blatant violation of any notion of international legitimacy, as well as his support to the fighting Ukrainian people and to the families of innocent victims.

The Ecumenical Patriarch condemned this unprovoked attack by Russia against Ukraine, an independent and sovereign state of Europe, as well as the violation of human rights and the brutal violence against our fellow humans and, above all, against civilians.

He prayed to the God of love and peace to enlighten the leadership of the Russian Federation, in order to understand the tragic consequences of its decisions and actions, which can be the trigger for even a world war.

The Ecumenical Patriarch also called on the leaders of all states, European institutions, and international organizations to work for a peaceful settlement of this critical situation through honest dialogue, which is the only means of resolving any problem and resolving any dispute.

Fr. Volodymyr Malchyn Comments

Apriest who works closely with the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Kyiv said that if the Russian military manages to take over the capital city, the Church will be “target number two.”

“Our military is target number one, and then all those who are not going to support [Russia’s] invasion,” including the Church, will be the second object of Moscow’s attack, said Fr. Volodymyr Malchyn, who works in the Patriarchal Curia of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. “You know the history of our Church. We have no illusions about that.”

ABP. SVIATOSLAV SHEVCHUK

Major Archbishop, Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church

“People very often are trying to see from the Churches some strong orientation: What should we do in such critical conditions? We feel our responsibility toward Ukrainian society and we are trying to project our own plan, especially when a possible full-scale military invasion of Russian troops can happen at any time.”

In response to a circulating theory that religious conflict in Ukraine is a reason for Russia's aggression, Archbishop Shevchuk strongly affirmed that there is no religious war, despite some differing views among the different Churches.

ABP. SVIATOSLAV SHEVCHUK

Major Archbishop, Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church

“In the very grassroots of Ukrainian society, between the believers, simple people, there are no divisions. Among the religious leaders in Ukraine, it is very clear that religious peace is a matter of national security. So we are avoiding any kind of conflicts among us and we are trying to foster religious peace in Ukraine as much as possible.”

Another participant in the conference was the Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine, Msgr. Visvaldas Kulbokas. He explained that parishes and Caritas staff have a number of humanitarian assistance points along the conflict line, where they provide material, psychological and spiritual aid. 

Despite it becoming more difficult to provide assistance in occupied territory, Abp. Shevchuk says a number priests and nuns continue to serve their people there.

ABP. SVIATOSLAV SHEVCHUK

Major Archbishop, Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church

“Those priests who are staying there with our people, they are heroes of our times. I have to say. But that was our policy and will be our policy, even if, God forbid, a new occupation happens. We stay with our people. Our priests, our nuns, will be staying with our people.”

Listen to the leaders of the Church.  Stop the violence and let us put history as a priority in our schools.  We need to have leaders who recognize that unless and until we learn from history we will repeat the mistakes of the past over and over again.  Failing to do this, we will not fail a class, we will fail our country, our world and our Church.  Amen